Taoiseach Simon Harris has said it was his understanding that the gardaí would consider the outcome of the Stardust inquests.
Mr Harris said he had asked the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and the Attorney General to consider the recommendations of the inquest and the verdict and the minister would update the Government "shortly".
"Today is the day to really recall the lives that were lost in the Stardust tragedy, to pay tribute to the loved ones, to the families that were left behind, who never allowed this to be forgotten, who in the face of awful challenge, continued to pursue and fight and campaign for over four decades for truth," he said.
"As Taoiseach today I want to acknowledge that I want to thank them. And I want to assure them that the government will now consider in full the outcome of the inquest."
The jury has returned verdicts of unlawful killing at the inquests into the deaths of the 48 people in the 1981 nightclub fire.
The 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 city centre.
Speaking at the conclusions of a two-day summit in Brussels, the Taoiseach said the Stardust tragedy was "one of the darkest moments in our country's history."
He told reporters: "It was a heartbreaking tragedy because of the 48 young people who lost their lives, because of the families whose lives are changed forever and because of the long and painful struggle for justice, for truth, and for answers."
He said the best way to honour their lives was "by listening to their loved ones, by listening to the jury today, by listening to the verdict and the recommendations that stem from that".
President Michael D Higgins said the verdict is a "vindication" of the fight of the relatives into the fire.
In a statement, Mr Higgins said: "This afternoon's verdict is a vindication of the fight of those relatives, a promised fulfilled, carried out over 43 long years, by the relatives, friends and community of the 48 young people, all aged between 16 and 27, who had their lives cut short on a night they had simply set out to spend and enjoy in the company of their friends.
"The inquests, which it must be remembered have only taken place due to endurance and tenacity in the insistence of their families never to give up and to have a conclusion as to fact, have provided for dignity and recognition, however late, being accorded to the lives of each of those 48 young people."
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'I'm sorry that it took this long to get to this point' - McEntee
In a statement, Minister McEntee said the Government will now consider the verdict and recommendations of the jury.
Ms McEntee said: "Today is a landmark day which I hope has brought answers, and some comfort, to the families and friends of the 48 young people who died in the Stardust fire on Saint Valentine's Day in 1981.
"All those affected have endured so much, and while I know the pain of such loss and suffering never fades, I hope they will feel they have today finally got to the truth of what happened."
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, she added that she regrets the inquests have taken this long.
"I think the fact that there have been so many different processes that have come out with different outcomes that have never really done what needed to be done it is regretful," she said.
"I can't speak on behalf of Government, but I can only say on my own behalf and as Minister for Justice, I’m so sorry that this happened and that it took this long to finally get to this point, but it is important that we are at this point now."
Ms McEntee said the Government still needed to discuss the idea of a formal State apology.
"The writing up of the (coroner's) report itself will take a couple of days, and then really there are a number of things that may happen here," she said.
"The families themselves may ask the gardaí based on the evidence here and based on the report and the findings, that they would look at the initial investigation and ask gardaí to review it and then obviously see if further steps or charges should be taken."
She said the Government will need to get a copy of the report as soon as it is finalised.
"We have to have legal advice and look at that, but again, there is an option for Government and myself as Minister to ask gardaí the exact same thing, to look at the previous investigation.
"For me, what is most important is what the families want."
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said: "The families of the Stardust victims were denied justice for far, far too long.
"Nothing can undo the long years of pain and suffering but I hope it is of some comfort that their tireless campaign on behalf of their loved ones has finally been vindicated.
"I commend the Coroner and jurors for their determined work in allowing the full facts of one of the darkest nights in Irish history to finally emerge."
'Justice has been a long time coming'
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said today justice had arrived for the Stardust families and that it had been "a long time coming".
She said: "My thoughts today are with the survivors and the families of those who lost their lives in the Stardust tragedy.
"They have waited over four decades for answers to what happened to them and their loved ones. Justice has been a long time coming; today it has arrived.
"The verdict of unlawful killing confirms what survivors, victims' families and Dubliners have always known.
"The forty-eight young lives that were taken in the Stardust tragedy night will be forever missed by those that love them. Now each family has the comfort of knowing the truth of that night and why their loved one died."
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith said it "should not have taken 43 years to reach this unlawful killing verdict".
"Finally the families and loved ones of those killed and injured in the Stardust fire are getting justice. But it should not have taken 43 years to reach this unlawful killing verdict and I want to pay tribute to all those who campaigned for so long for justice. Our thoughts are with them at this time," she said.
Meanwhile, Dublin City Council said it "acknowledges" today's verdicts, adding it "hoped that these verdicts will finally provide closure for the families who lost their loved ones".
The council thanked the jury and the coroner, Dr Myra Cullinane for their work as well as commending Dublin Fire Brigade for its response to the fire on the night.
Inquests a result of unwavering search for truth
The verdicts have been described as a "watershed moment in the Stardust families' decades-long search for the truth" by Social Democrats TD Cian O'Callaghan.
He said the areas of north Dublin where many of the victims were from still bear the scars of the fire.
"Despite their unimaginable loss and pain, the Stardust families and survivors faced countless obstacles and have been forced to fight every step of the way in their quest for justice," he said.
"The conclusion of these inquests, the longest ever held in this country, is the result of the extraordinary tenacity of the Stardust relatives and their unwavering commitment to vindicating the rights of those who died," he added.
"While today's unlawful death verdicts will not take from the families’ enduring sense of loss, the jury’s conclusions will hopefully bring them some comfort."
