FIANNA Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, and the Taoiseah have paid tribute to Seán Ardagh who died last week.
“Seán was one of the great gentlemen of Irish politics,” Mr Martin said.
“He was hard working, courteous and committed. He was also enormously popular with his colleagues and, of course, his constituents.
“He contested three general elections and was successful in all of them, increasing his vote in every outing and topping the poll with a surplus on his final contest in 2007.
“He was a very distinguished and assured chairperson of a number of Oireachtas committees
“From 2002 to 2007 he chaired the Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights.
“In the 30th Dáil, he led the Committee on the Constitution. Seán’s temperament, even-handed ways and constructive approach made him an ideal chair and problem solver.
“During his political career he faced very serious and life threatening health challenges on a number of occasions. In 2010 he faced a six month battle with cancer but he was always positive and upbeat in his struggles.
“Happily, he lived to see his daughter Catherine elected to Seanad Éireann and appointed as Fianna Fáil group leader in the upper house. He gave her great guidance and support at all stages.
“I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to all Seán’s family, his wife Máire, sons Rory and Charlie and, of course, Catherine. He will be very fondly remembered and sadly missed.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny also expressed his sadness on the death of the former Fianna Fáil TD.
“I was saddened to hear of the death of Seán Ardagh today,” Mr Kenny said.
“Seán was a gentleman who had a long political career. He was a committed and hard-working public representative for over 25 years in Dublin.
“Seán expertly chaired many Oireachtas committees in areas such as women’s rights and the Constitution.
“I extend my sincere condolences and those of the Government to his wife Máire, daughter Senator Catherine Ardagh, his sons Rory and Charlie and his wider family and friends.”
Seán Ardagh served as a TD for the Dublin South-Central constituency from 1997 to 2011.
A chartered accountant by profession, he studied in Canada in the 1970s and returned to Ireland to practice.
He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1997 General Election and retained his seat at the 2002 and 2007 general elections.
Mr Ardagh replaced Ben Briscoe as the TD and main candidate for Fianna Fáil in Dublin South-Central in 2002. He also served as Chairman of a number of Dáil committees.
He was first elected to Dublin County Council in 1985 and remained a member until 1999. He was elected to Dublin City Council in 1999 and remained a councillor until 2003.
In December 2010 he announced he would not be standing at the 2011 General Election.
He resigned as a TD in January 2011.
Mr Ardagh was initially diagnosed with non-hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells, just before the 2002 general election.
The cancer recurred in 2010 and Mr Ardagh did not contest the 2011 General Election although he said at the time that his illness did not affect his decision.