Ex-Irish Premier Garret FitzGerald Dies after Illness

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Former Irish prime minister Garret FitzGerald, who signed a landmark agreement on Northern Ireland in the 1980s, has died in a Dublin hospital after a short illness, his family said Thursday. He was 85.

FitzGerald served twice as Taoiseach, or prime minister, at the head of Fine Gael-Labor coalitions in 1981-82 and 1982-87, during which he signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement with British premier Margaret Thatcher in 1985.

It gave Ireland a role in the governing of British-ruled Northern Ireland for the first time and was regarded as a key milestone in what became the peace process in the province.

"The family of Dr. Garret FitzGerald are sad to announce that he has passed away this morning after a short illness," they said in a statement.

"He was a much loved and adored father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be sadly missed by his extended family."

President Mary McAleese described FitzGerald as a "Renaissance man of our time" who constantly strove to make Ireland a better place for its entire people.

"Garret was a persuasive voice for progressive reform. As Taoiseach, he courageously led the debate for a more tolerant and inclusive Ireland," she said.

Prime Minister Enda Kenny said FitzGerald was a unique figure who had made a lasting positive impact on Ireland.

"His towering intellect and his enthusiasm for life and his optimism for politics will be missed by everybody," Kenny said.

FitzGerald was born in 1926, the son of Desmond FitzGerald, who had been involved in the Irish War of Independence and became foreign minister in the first government.

He worked in state airline Aer Lingus before he was elected to the Senate upper house in 1965 and to the Dail, or lower house, in 1969.

A committed Europhile, he was appointed foreign minister in 1973 and was elected leader of the center-right Fine Gael party in 1977.

News of his death dominated the Irish media on Thursday, dislodging coverage of the third day of Queen Elizabeth II's historic visit.