Former SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume said Charles Haughey made a positive contribution to peace in Northern Ireland.
'Obviously it is a sad day for the South (of Ireland) and for Charles Haughey's family. I extend my deepest sympathy to his wife and family,' said Mr Hume.
He continued: 'Peace and justice in the North of Ireland was always at the top of the agenda for Charles Haughey and when I started to talk to Gerry Adams, he strongly supported me. He worked very closely with me in preparation for the whole movement to get lasting peace and an end to violence with the Downing Street Declaration and he fully briefed his successor Albert Reynolds.
'Charles Haughey made a very positive contribution to the ending of violence and bringing peace to our streets,' added Mr Hume.
The former Fine Gael Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald, said Mr Haughey was a man of formidable political skills.
Mr FitzGerald said that, despite their public political differences, their relationship was always marked by courtesy and absence of personal antagonism.
The Primate of All-Ireland, Dr Seán Brady, said Mr Haughey was an able and talented politician who did much to promote the interests of Ireland and her people.
Dr Brady said Mr Haughey was a reforming politician who had considerable success in introducing measures to take care of the less well-off and disadvantaged in our society.
He said Mr Haughey will also be remembered for pioneering public utility allowance schemes and free transport for the elderly.
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, said Mr Haughey was a man who engaged the people of Ireland over the last 40 years on the public stage.
Archbishop Martin said that these days following the death of the former Taoiseach were not ones for writing history books. He said a full and balanced analysis of Mr Haughey's impact on Irish life would take time and careful consideration.
It should be remembered, he added, that Mr Haughey was a husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend and those closest to him should be afforded these days to grieve with peace and dignity.
The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev Ivan McElhinney, has paid tribute to the late Taoiseach.
Rev McElhinney said: 'The late Charles Haughey was a man who, at every point of his four terms of office, retained a commitment to his job. Though controversial, his successes in terms of the rejuvenation of the Irish health system cannot be forgotten, and his magnanimity in working the Anglo-Irish agreement is a firm tribute to one who could, in public at any rate, put aside personal disagreements in the face of the will of the people.
'Mr Haughey was not perfect, but he did attain a high level of popularity and success as Taoiseach, and our thoughts, prayers and sympathies are with his widow and his family at this difficult time.'
Unions pay tribute
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said it enjoyed a good working relationship with Mr Haughey during his time in office.
In a statement, Congress said: 'He will be particularly remembered for his courtesy and for his vision in engaging with the unions, employers and farmers in 1987, to initiate the Program for National Recovery. This initiative was a unique adaptation of the European Social Dialogue process and it led to the Social Partnership model which we have today. It is a model which has given Ireland an unparalleled era of economic and social progress.
'We extend our sympathy to Mrs Maureen Haughey, Deputy Seán Haughey and to the entire Haughey family.'
SIPTU General President Jack O'Connor has paid tribute to Mr Haughey's role in overcoming Ireland's economic crisis and laying foundations for growth.
'Despite the many controversies in which he became embroiled and the criticisms he attracted, sometimes justifiably, it will always remain to his credit that he had the foresight and determination to seek a negotiated solution to the enormous difficulties facing our economy in the late 1980s,' said Mr O'Connor.
'At a time when many of his contemporaries were beguiled by the futile politics of Thatcherism, he recognised the importance of organised workers in the trade union movement as a key element in tackling the problems facing our economy, laying the foundations for sustainable development and helping create our current prosperity,' he added.
'An important visionary' - Arts Council
The Arts Council has paid tribute to Mr Haughey as 'an important and visionary advocate for the arts in Ireland'.
The Chair of the Arts Council, Olive Braiden, said Mr Haughey's legacy 'will lie in the rich, artistic and cultural life he helped foster in Ireland'.
Ms Braiden continued: 'The artists' tax exemption which he set up in 1969 as the then Minister for Finance was one of the most enlightened pieces of legislation ever put in place. This exemption has made a major contribution to the creative arts in Ireland and has delivered considerable socio-economic benefits to the Irish people as a whole.
'With an avid interest in works of art, Mr Haughey also recognised the difficulties for struggling individual artists and in 1981 he put measures in place to support them. Thus Aosdána, the affiliation of creative artists was established in 1981 by the Arts Council - with the active support of Mr Haughey. The affiliation now has 217 members.'
On behalf of the Arts Council, Ms Braiden extended her deepest sympathy to the Haughey family.
IBEC's Director-General, Turlough O'Sullivan, said: 'All of us concerned with the welfare of the economy owe gratitude to Charles Haughey for bringing together a sense of national unity in 1987 which led Ireland from near bankruptcy to being the envy of our neighbours.
'His contribution to Irish life spanned most of the second part of the twentieth century. His imaginative and courageous approach to political life has left a lasting impact on our lives.'
