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.