FACTBOX: Reaction to Ahern stepping down as Irish PM

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Bertie Ahern said on Wednesday he would step down as Ireland's prime minister on May 6, bowing to pressure to go early following a string of embarrassing appearances on the witness stand at an anti-corruption tribunal.

Following are comments on his departure:

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN GORDON JOHNDROE

"The president (George W. Bush) has enjoyed his many meetings and working relationship with Prime Minister Ahern and wishes him all the best."

NORTHERN IRELAND FIRST MINISTER IAN PAISLEY

"In sharp contrast with other Irish prime ministers, I enjoyed a good working relationship with Mr. Ahern because he was willing to recognize the position of the Unionist population that they had no interest in being part of a United Ireland. What they wanted to see was mutual co-operation when it worked to the benefit of both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. He and I operated as equals, not as one trying to assimilate the other.

"He came to realize that politically motivated North-Southery with a nationalist trajectory was never going to be acceptable to our community and he conducted himself accordingly.

"His strong popularity with people in the Republic of Ireland is evidenced by his string of election victories and as he steps down from front-line politics in the Republic, we wish him well."

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN

"I think the whole of Britain will want to thank Bertie Ahern, and indeed the whole of the United Kingdom, for what was an invaluable and historic contribution to the peace process."

"His commitment to it, seeing it through over many years, supporting Tony Blair and the others who contributed to making possible the Good Friday Agreement and beyond, is something that will always be remembered in the whole of the United Kingdom."

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JOSE MANUEL BARROSO:

"I'm very sorry that Bertie Ahern has decided to leave. He is a good friend, he has been a great partner ... Let me praise everything he has been doing for Europe in Ireland, also for Northern Ireland.

"I was in Belfast some time ago. One of the great moments of my experience as president of the Commission was to see those parties now working together in a real spirit of reconciliation. That would not have been possible without the commitment of people like Bertie Ahern."

AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER KEVIN RUDD:

"His contribution, together with Tony Blair's, to Northern Ireland in recent times has been extraordinary. Were it not for their respective contributions ... what we've seen most recently in Belfast would not have been possible.

"His contribution in terms of the settlement dispute, which goes back centuries, many centuries -- as an Australian of partial Irish extraction, I know something of it -- this has been a great contribution to the world."

ENDA KENNY, LEADER OF IRISH OPPOSITION PARTY FINE GAEL

"I welcome Bertie Ahern's decision to step down on what is clearly a very sad day for him. I acknowledge his achievements in office. Today, I think he has bowed to the inevitable. Mr. Ahern was effectively forced to resign by the weight of his own evidence and his own actions. Since September last year, I believe he lost the credibility and the authority to lead the government effectively.

"Those who stood side by side with Mr Ahern in last year's election have stood side by side with him in recent months as he told more and more unbelievable stories. Not one of them confronted him, not one of them disowned him, not one of them were prepared to say that taking large sums of money was wrong."

GERRY ADAMS, LEADER OF IRELAND'S SINN FEIN PARTY

"I think the Taoiseach (prime minister) did the right thing. Unfortunately for him, and for the Fianna Fail party and the government and the state, the position was becoming increasingly untenable and the main focus of politics was around his finances and all that goes with that.

"He is justifiably proud he was the Taoiseach who was in place, and who with the British Prime Minister and the rest of us brought about the (Northern Ireland) Good Friday agreement. He deserves our thanks for that, he deserves our gratitude for that."

IRISH PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE

"His contributions to our thriving economy and to peace in Northern Ireland were hugely important and he deserves every credit for the work he has done. Bertie Ahern will be remembered as one of the outstanding politicians of his generation both nationally and internationally."

DERMOT O'LEARY, CHIEF ECONOMIST, GOODBODY STOCKBROKERS

"One important implication is the fact that we won't have continuity in the Department of Finance. In terms of policy I don't think there will be any radical change.

"The debate will rage around who will take up the mantle in the Department of Finance given that Minister (Brian) Cowen will probably take up the reins as Taoiseach (prime minister).

"It's not something we should be concerned about on its own but there are issues we are facing, international concerns are increasing and domestic concerns which have been around for the last 12 months. So it's a challenging environment for a new Taoiseach to start his term, no doubt about that.

"Global credit problems, but also domestic issues. We've had a pretty exceptional period of the last 10 years and it's difficult now to see the driver of growth domestically in the next few years."

FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR

"Bertie Ahern was a great Taoiseach (prime minister), a leader for whom I had the greatest respect, admiration and friendship."

"He will always be remembered for his crucial role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland, for transforming relations between Britain and the Irish Republic and for presiding over a sustained period of economic and social advance in Ireland."

"A remarkable man with a remarkable record of achievement."

IRISH FINANCE MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BRIAN COWEN

"In coming to this decision the Taoiseach (prime minister) has once again put the interests of the nation first.

"Bertie Ahern's contribution to the creation of today's peaceful, successful, confident and modern Ireland has been incalculable. From when he first entered government he has served Ireland's interests with a commitment and drive unequalled by anyone of his political generation."

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul and Andras Gergely)