The Taoiseach has led expressions of sympathy in the Dáil for the ten people who died following Friday's explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal.
Micheál Martin said the ten men, women and children represented "everything good and kind, and beautiful about Creeslough, Donegal and our country".
"Fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, each one an enormous, incalculable loss in the lives of those around them," he said.
"This is a community bereft , a close-knit people in deep sadness and mourning, devastated by what has happened. But it's also a community of great strength and resilience, pulling together to support each other through this terrible time."
Members of the Dáil joined together to pay tribute to the ten people who died in an explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal last Friday and to offer sympathies and condolences to their loved ones | Read more: https://t.co/1HChRVoNNi pic.twitter.com/xwPAuq79yq
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 11, 2022
Mr Martin said he met many people over the weekend who shared stories of the "most extraordinary courage, commitment, heroism, and love".
"Stories of local people putting themselves at risk and doing everything humanly possible to save the lives of their neighbours in the aftermath of the explosion," he said.
"Of first responders and emergency services from north and south facing scenes that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. But never hesitating for a second to do everything they could."
The funerals of two of those who lost their lives in Friday's explosion were held today.
Mr Martin said: "As the people of Creeslough begin the rituals of funerals and burials, we gather as an Oireachtas this afternoon, to offer our sincere sympathy, express our shared respect for the bereaved and the injured and to remember and honour those who have died.
"It is important that those struggling to make sense of the enormous and heartbreaking loss now confronting them, know that the entire nation is with them in spirit.
"Words on their own cannot comfort the fathomless grief that so many will feel in the weeks and months ahead but what we can do, and what I know we will do, is to be there for them.
"Individually across this house and collectively as an Oireachtas in the service of all the people of Ireland, we stand with the community of Creeslough and the people of Donegal at home and abroad."
Humanitarian assistance scheme
Following discussions at Cabinet today the intention of Government is to be generous in its distribution of compensation from the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to the community in Creeslough, a spokesperson said this evening.
The fund is usually reserved for those affected by flooding.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said payments would be means tested and would help people replace items lost or damaged.
Speaking on his way into a Cabinet meeting this morning, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said a large number of people will need psychological help in the time ahead and with the funerals beginning today, Cresslough "will very much be on our minds".
The Taoiseach also paid tribute to those who cared for people in the aftermath of the explosion.
"We pay tribute to the true courage and dedication of our emergency services and healthcare staff," he told the Dáil.
"We are reminded of the critical role they play in our national life and we thank them for being there in our darkest moments of need."
Mr Martin added: "We put our arms around the bereaved and the injured. We pledge to support this community now and in the time ahead as it comes to terms with this trauma and we remember those who have died.
"Hugh, Robert, Martina, Martin, James, Catherine, Jessica, Leona, James and Shauna."
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that Ireland stands with the people of Creeslough, saying: " A nation stands with you. A nation mourns with you."
He said that last Friday, "our hearts stopped as we learned of the unfolding loss."
Mr Varadkar stated that the "full resources of the State would help rebuild a broken community."
He added: "The deepest wounds are invisible and can last a lifetime."
As he extended his sympathies, Sinn Féin TD Matt Cathy told the Dáil that the unspeakable of grief will continue for people in Creeslough and there will be many difficult days ahead.
He also praised the efforts of rescuers, doctors and nurses and many others, who he said had put their own lives on the line as they worked through Friday night.
The Labour party leader has expressed her deepest sympathies to those who lost loved ones in Creeslough last week.
Ivana Bacik also paid tribute to the "courage and bravery" shown by the emergency services.
Ms Bacik listed those who lost their lives, telling the Dáil that everyone was "heartbroken by the loss of life".
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said the deaths of ten people in the village had cast a long dark shadow across the country.
She said an entire nation was impacted with a sense of shock and grief.
"People across the country have gotten to know the victims whose lives were cruelly snatched away."
Ms Murphy said the grief was relentless and overpowering, but she added that there was a chink of light from the huge efforts of the emergency workers.
Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett said that on behalf of People Before Profit and Solidarity, he wanted to send his deepest sympathies to those who lost family and friends, as well as wider Creeslough community.
He described last Friday's events as "utterly unspeakable", adding: "I don't think any words can possibly compensate for the shocking loss and tragedy that they have experienced."
The Dún Laoghaire TD said he wanted to pay tribute to the "incredible dignity" the Creeslough community had demonstrated since then, as well as their heroism.
Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett said he wanted to also pay tribute to all of the emergency services.
A period of silence will be held before the World Cup 2023 play-off between the Republic of Ireland women's team and Scotland later today.
Both teams will also wear black armbands during the match.
In a statement, FAI President Gerry McAnaney said: "We can only offer the love and support of everyone involved with Irish football to the people of Creeslough, our many friends across Donegal and all to those who are grieving the loss of loved ones at this incredibly difficult time."
Reporting Paul Cunningham, Micheál Lehane, PA
