The Taoiseach has said he "apologised unreservedly" to the survivors and families of the victims of the Stardust disaster during a "humbling and emotional" meeting today.
Simon Harris also confirmed he will apologise on behalf of the State in the Dáil on Tuesday.
Relatives and survivors met Mr Harris at Government Buildings, where the wording of the State apology was discussed.
In a statement this afternoon, he said he held a lengthy meeting with the families and relatives of the 48 people who died in the tragedy.
He said: "It was a humbling and emotional meeting. I want to thank every person who attended for what they told me, both as a group and in private individual conversations."
He said more than 70 people gathered at Government Buildings.
"However, I am acutely aware that the numbers affected by Stardust is many, many multiples of that. That includes those injured, the people working in Stardust, the frontline workers who fought to save lives on the night.
"It includes survivors, the fire crews, the ambulance staff, the gardaí, the army, the taxi drivers and the communities across Ireland who have carried this tragedy with them for 43 years," he said.
Mr Harris added: "I have listened closely to everything the families told me and as Taoiseach, I have today apologised unreservedly to each family. I will do so on behalf of the State on Tuesday next."
Stardust survivor Antoinette Keegan said that the Taoiseach called out the names of all 48 victims and will do so again in the Dáil chamber on Tuesday.
"It's very, very positive, what he’s doing," Ms Keegan said to reporters following the meeting, adding that they had all previously felt "abandoned by the Irish State".
Ms Keegan said that if the apology is not "done right" then families will not be accepting it.
"I’m feeling very positive that we’ve been listened to after 43 years. The Government acknowledges the pain and suffering they've put us through," she said.
This morning, the families walked with a banner remembering their relatives towards Government buildings.
They were greeted by the Taoiseach who spoke to them in the courtyard and shook their hands before going into the official meeting.
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Carole Barrett, who lost her 17-year-old brother in the Stardust fire, said the meeting went well, but that any apology must be "robust, meaningful and transparent".
"It's got to be worth the paper it's written on," she said outside Government buildings.
"It’s got to take a lot of time, it’s not to be rushed and it really has to stand up for each and every one of these victims."
Ms Barrett added that there is "so much to apologise for" especially regarding the length of time it took to identify some of the victims, saying that family members "became our own investigators of our own loved ones".
She added that the Taoiseach's words during the meeting were "quite strong" and that he showed kindness and compassion.
"I'm delighted with him," Ms Barrett said.
Following their 43-year battle for justice for their loved ones, members of the Stardust families said they deserved a formal apology for the way in which the State handled the nightclub disaster in Artane in Dublin.
Read More:
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Fight for justice: The long road to the Stardust inquests
Maurice McHugh, who lost his only child, 17-year-old Caroline, in the tragedy, welcomed the upcoming apology but added: "It has to be genuine, it can't just be sorry, it needs to be more than that.
"43 years of history - he has a hell of a lot of work to do in three days," he added.
His wife Phyllis McHugh said she was "annoyed" that politicians had let families down in the past, adding: "They should have been there from day one."
Three of Brigid McDermott's children were among the dead: William, 22, George, 18, and Marcella, 16.
Speaking after the meeting with Mr Harris, Ms McDermott, who is now 87, said: "I'm proud of myself and everyone and all the mothers, fathers who went through what we did.
"God bless and thank everyone, especially the public - thank you all."
Asked what the apology would mean to her, she said: "It's just to hear they're sorry - but it's a bit late for me."
Darragh Mackin, the solicitor for the majority of the Stardust families, said: "We're hopeful that the apology will reflect the hurt, the suffering, the trauma but most importantly the truth."
He added: "Between now and Tuesday, we've offered to engage directly with the Taoiseach on the content of the apology.
"We hope that the Taoiseach listened to the various families - we're confident that he did.
"Families want it reflected that for 40 years they were criminalised, and now the truth has been told.
"They want the State to apologise for the systemic abuse they suffered and we hope that is contained in the apology on Tuesday."
He said it was "far too early" to discuss a redress scheme.
'Incredible, emotional meeting'
Earlier this morning, the families met Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, whose party has said it would table a motion in the Dáil next week to call for a full State apology to the Stardust families and survivors.
Speaking after their meeting, Ms McDonald said it had been an "incredible" and "emotional" morning, referring the families as "the best of the best".
"It is essential that a State apology is now made and that it addresses the failures of governments not just 43 years ago in the aftermath of this tragedy but every day since then," She added.
"For four decades, they have faced obstacle after obstacle put in front of them by the State."
Asked if there should be further investigations into the cause of the fire, she said that should follow a State apology.
"We will come to that in due course. I think the families have said the first issue is the full State apology and thereafter, of course, there are many many options and avenues available.
"But that's for another day. For today this is about the apology from the State"
A 12-person jury delivered the verdict of unlawful killing to a packed courtroom in the Pillar Room on the grounds of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin on Thursday afternoon.
The families in court cheered and applauded as the verdict was read out.
The jury found the fire started in the hot press in the main bar and was caused by an electrical fault.
That finding is in stark contrast to the original 1982 Keane Tribunal finding that the fire was "probably caused deliberately". That conclusion, which was long contested by families of the victims, was struck from the record in 2009.
The inquest proceedings began last April following a sustained campaign by relatives.
It sat for over 100 days and heard evidence from more than 300 witnesses.
The inquests have been the longest held in Ireland to date.
Additional reporting: PA
