President Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to former US President Jimmy Carter, who has died at the age of 100.
The Carter Center confirmed that Mr Carter passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia.
President Higgins said Mr Carter will be remembered by those who knew him as a "thoroughly decent man of great integrity", who will leave a "rich legacy of public service".
He said: "The values that a global public have come to associate with former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, for younger generations in particular, will have been through their awareness, and admiration, of the work of the Carter Center.
"These values were, however, ones that can be seen to have informed all of his life.
"President Carter will be remembered as a principled man who dedicated his life to seeking to advance the cause of peace across the world.
"His exceptional contribution was in his quest to understand the obstacles to peace."
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Former US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100
President Higgins pays tribute to 'thoroughly decent' Jimmy Carter
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President Higgins said Mr Carter's greatest legacy will be his "distinguished record and commitment to human rights in the decades following his presidency".
He added: "This is a legacy that was given international recognition when Jimmy Carter in 2002 became the only US President to receive the Nobel Peace Prize after leaving office."
In a statement, Taoiseach Simon Harris has also paid tribute to the former president and offered his condolences to Mr Carter's family, saying "Jimmy Carter's legacy is a reminder of what diplomacy can achieve, the peace deal he helped to forge between Israel and Egypt stands to this day.
"He was a keen supporter of peace in Ireland and a respected voice on the road to the Good Friday Agreement," he added.
"The world has lost a great humanitarian, the United States has lost a great President, and a family has lost a wonderful decent man."
Carter a 'humanitarian to the end' - Martin
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said he was "deeply saddened" at Mr Carter's passing.
He said: "President Carter truly lived a life less ordinary, with a deep commitment to peace in the Middle East, human and civil rights, housing, and ending the arms race between the US and the Soviet Union.
"The personification of public service, his work extended to our own island, as he took the first decisive steps to proactive and transformational US engagement on Northern Ireland. This commitment to peace in Ireland endures today."
"A humanitarian to the end, my condolences go to President Carter's family, friends and the American people," Mr Martin added.
The world has lost 'extraordinary leader' - Bidens
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said the US and world had "lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian".
They said: "Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what's extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well."
US President-elect Donald Trump said that "we all owe him a debt of gratitude".
"The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans," he said.
"Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers," Mr Trump added.
