Over the course of a decades-long career in politics, Mr O’Kennedy served as a government minister, a European Commissioner, a TD and a Senator.

He was called to the Bar in 1961 and became a senior counsel in 1973, by which time he had been elected as a TD for Tipperary North.

In a statement, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “Few people have left such a rich, or long, political legacy, or dedicated so much to Irish public life.”

Mr Martin added: “A senior counsel, he had a keen legal mind, and brought great wit, intelligence and determination to several ministerial roles spanning three decades.

“This experience was crucial whether serving as minister for foreign affairs, finance, labour, agriculture, transport, economic planning and development, or public service.

“Michael was also a strong voice for Ireland on the international stage, serving as European Commissioner in the early 1980s, before returning to the Dáil to serve his beloved Tipperary North once again.

“He also served ably as a Senator, in 1965, and again from 1993 to 1997, in an extraordinary 37-year career in national politics.

“I want to express my deepest sympathies to the O’Kennedy family at this very difficult time, especially to his wife Breda and children Brian, Orla and Mary.”