President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to former Labour minister Mervyn Taylor, who has died aged 89, describing him as a "founding figure in the movement for equal access for all citizens before the law".
"The death of Mervyn Taylor represents the passing of an icon in the struggle for equality," he said.
President Higgins said Mr Taylor would be remembered by all those who had worked with him "as a distinguished public servant who served with such dedication, as one of the most gracious, unselfish and kindest members ever to serve in the Dáil".
Mr Taylor was first elected to the Dáil for the constituency of Dublin South-West in 1981.
He first became a Cabinet minister with the Labour portfolio in 1993, eventually becoming the founding Minister for Equality and Law Reform until his retirement from politics in 1997.
He was also Ireland's first Cabinet minister who was a member of the Jewish faith.
Labour Party leader Alan Kelly said that among Mr Taylor's biggest achievements were his handling of the Divorce Referendum.
He said the Labour Party had suffered a huge loss and that Mr Taylor was an "incredible servant to the State".
Mr Kelly said Mr Taylor's work focused on tackling inequality and discrimination.
He added: "Mervyn drove forward so many changes in the law, and it is long and notable list of Acts that is a testament to his record of public service."
He said that included the Interpretation Act, the Maternity Protection Act, the Family Law Acts and the Domestic Violence Act.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar described Mr Taylor as an inspirational politician who had an impact on him as a teenager when he first began to realise that he had an interest in politics.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Varadkar said Mr Taylor was a democratic revolutionary.
