Former Fine Gael minister and ceann comhairle Seán Barrett has died at the age of 81.
Mr Barrett was a TD for Dún Laoghaire in south Dublin for 34 years, having first been elected in 1981. He retired in 2002, but was elected again from 2007 to 2020.
He was twice Government chief whip – firstly under Garret Fitzgerald and later under John Bruton in the 1994 rainbow coalition.
Mr Barrett also served as ceann comhairle from 2011 to 2016, and as Minister for Defence and Minister for Education.
He was originally from Dalkey and was educated in CBC Monkstown Park, Presentation College in Glasthule, and the former College of Commerce in Rathmines.
He is survived by his wife Sheila, children and grandchildren.
Tánaiste Simon Harris described Mr Barrett as a “distinguished parliamentarian” who dedicated much of his life to public service.
He said he was “witty, intelligent, sincere, and a man of deep convictions”.
“In his role as ceann comhairle he exuded fairness, authority, and a firm but measured approach in the chair,” Mr Harris said in a statement.