Former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Dr. Garret FitzGerald will be given a full State funeral. FitzGerald died on Thursday morning aged 85.

On Saturday, FitzGerald's remains will lie in repose at the Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Major of Dublin. Members of the public will be allowed to pay their respects and sign a book of condolences.

He will be buried in Shanganagh cemetery following his funeral Mass in Donnybrook on Sunday, according to Irish Times reports.

FitzGerald passed away after a short illness. President Mary McAleese today led tributes to him. He served two terms as Taoiseach having been first elected as a Fine Gael TD in 1969. He had previously served in Seanad Eireann (the Senate) from 1965.

He served as Taoiseach from July 1981 to February 1982 and from December 1982 to June 1987. During his time in office he negotiated the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985.

Today his family thanked the doctors and nurses who cared for him. They said he was a "much loved and adored father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be sadly missed by his extended family". Details of funeral arrangements are to be announced later.

McAleese said FitzGerald "lived his life with total integrity, unrelenting purpose and an unquenchable concern for the welfare of Ireland and its citizens".

"Garret was the Renaissance man of our time. His thoughtful writing, distinctive voice and probing intellect all combined to make him one of our national treasures. Above all, Garret FitzGerald was a true public servant. Steeped in the history of the State, he constantly strove to make Ireland a better place for all its people."

Taoiseach Enda Kenny described him as "a truly remarkable man who made a truly remarkable contribution to Ireland".

"His towering intellect and enthusiasm for life will be missed by by all and especially by people in Fine Gael."

“He had an eternal optimism for what could be achieved in politics. You could not tire him out and his belief that politics and democracy would work for peace."

Liam Cosgrave, former Fine Gael Taoiseach said FitzGerald's important work in Europe was "reflected in benefits to the Irish economy”.

“After he retired from politics he wrote and talked about current and past events with an idiosyncratic fluency which he enjoyed to his satisfaction.

“He showed exemplary care and kindness to his wife, Joan, by his continuing solicitude over a long period while she was in indifferent health."

Former President Mary Robinson said he was a "moral as well as a political leader of great integrity."

"The life of service and scholarship he lived and the way he committed himself to so many activities long past usual retirement age endeared him to Irish people, young and old."