Former Fianna Fáil TD for Clare and minister Brendan Daly has died aged 83.
Mr Daly, who served as a minister in a number of governments during the 1980s and 1990s, had been ill and was being treated in hospital. He died last night.
A native of Cooraclare in Co Clare, Mr Daly was first elected as a TD in 1973 and served the county until he lost his seat in 1992.
He then spent a number of years in the Seanad. He was returned as a TD in 1997 before being defeated in the 2002 election.
Mr Daly was a strong supporter of former Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach Charles Haughey and served as minister for fisheries and forestry in 1982 and as minister for the marine in the Fianna Fáil government of 1987.
He was also minister for defence in 1991 and served as minister for social welfare.
Tributes were paid to him as a champion of west Clare, a good friend, and as someone who was very encouraging to younger people in the Fianna Fáil party.
He is survived by his daughter Niamh, and sons Ivor and Ronan as well as his grandchildren.
Fianna Fáil leader and Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Brendan Daly, who he described as a colleague and good friend.
In a statement, Mr Martin said that Mr Daly was "a truly outstanding public representative, who served the people of Clare with great diligence, care and attentiveness".
He "was in public life for all the right reasons", Mr Martin said, and he "was a man of principle and integrity and brought great energy and commitment to his many ministerial positions".
"Today, more than anything else, I remember Brendan's warmth, wit, intelligence and his regular advice and insights," the Fianna Fail leader added.
He expressed his "deepest sympathies" to Mr Daly's family and friends.
