East Timor independence campaigner Tom Hyland has died.
President Michael D Higgins led tributes to Mr Hyland who he described as an "exceptional" person.
Mr Hyland, a former bus driver from Ballyfermot in Dublin, was behind a campaign in the 1990s to raise awareness about East Timor's struggle for independence.
President Higgins said Mr Hyland was "one of those exceptional people who, having familiarized himself with what was happening far away from Ireland, decided to take action on an issue of humanity that could not be ignored".
"As the driving force behind the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign (ETISC), Tom Hyland made a deeply significant contribution to the independence struggle and establishment of Timor-Leste," the president said in a statement.
Tom Hyland founded ETISC immediately after watching John Pilger's television documentary Cold Blood: The Massacre of East Timor.
During his bus breaks, Mr Hyland contacted people who might be of assistance in drawing attention to the struggle of the people of East Timor.
"I recall Tom contacting me around the time of his establishment of the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign in order to seek my support and we remained in touch on the issue over the years," President Higgins said.
"The significant contribution made by the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign was recognised as one of the most effective globally by the Timor-Leste government after independence and Tom was central to this work, including in encouraging the Irish government to play a commendable role in the establishment of democracy."
East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, officially became independent in 2002 after holding an independence referendum in 1999.
It had been occupied by Indonesia from 1975 to 1999 after previously being a Portuguese colony.
ETISC was awared the Order of Timor-Leste in 1999 in recognition of the contribution made by the campaign to supporting the East Timor independence struggle.
