President's reaction: President Mary McAleese said yesterday it was "entirely appropriate" for her to interrupt her three-country tour of Southern Africa in order to fly back for the State funeral of Charles J Haughey.
It was "something I would wish to do, and I will be doing", she said from Lesotho.
The Office of the President indicated that she had no option but to attend the funeral as it would otherwise not be a State event.
Speaking by satellite from Lesotho to RTÉ Radio's News at One, Mrs McAleese confirmed that she would be flying back to Dublin tomorrow. Asked whether she had a view on whether Mr Haughey should be afforded a State funeral, she replied: "I will be home for Mr Haughey's State funeral on Friday. I would have thought that is a very strong view on that."
A spokeswoman for the President declined to elaborate further, other than saying: "It's a State funeral. The President is Head of State, and as with all State events she will attend it."
The spokeswoman added that the President had asked Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Conor Lenihan to continue with their official programme in Africa, and "he is staying on at her request".
The President is scheduled to attend a ceremonial welcome in Mozambique today before travelling back to Dublin.
She is due to return to Mozambique on Saturday ahead of a further State visit to Tanzania - the last of the three countries she had planned to visit.
Mrs McAleese learned of Mr Haughey's death yesterday via a text message received by her delegation as she landed near the Mohale Dam near Maseru where she was inspecting Irish Aid-funded projects.
Shortly afterwards, she said she was "desperately sad" to hear of the former taoiseach's death.
"We have known for quite some time that he had been ill of course because he had borne a very long illness with great dignity and considerable grace," she said.
"It wasn't entirely unexpected but as with all these things, no matter how much preparation there is, his passing is a moment of real sadness, and I think widespread sadness."
She said she wished to offer her deepest condolences on behalf of the Irish people to Mr Haughey's wife, Maureen, and to his children, Eimear, Sean, Ciaran and Conor, as well as to his grandchildren, "and to all those who loved him".
She said she remembered Mr Haughey as "a very strong personality, a tremendous ability". Of his legacy, she said, "the Irish Financial Services Centre is one very prominent example. I think of the free travel that meant so much to people, the work in the arts and what he did for artists in Ireland, and it goes on and on and on.
"I remember a very proud Irishman, very, very proud of his country, with great faith in his country's ability and a determination that that ability would shine and blossom."
Recalling how Mr Haughey had recruited her as an election candidate for Fianna Fáil in 1986, Mrs McAleese said: "It was a time I had the opportunity to see him at reasonably close hand and to see how passionate he was about everything he did, and how he wanted to see that passion in others."
She added he was "a rare phenomenon" in that he was "very interested to know what my own experience had been in Northern Ireland...
"I always found it interesting that he had time for the personal view as well, and time to listen to it, and very importantly took time to ask about it. That was one of the characteristics that I must say I remember him best for."
Statement: President McAleese
"It is with sadness that I have learned of the death of former Taoiseach, Charles J. Haughey. I offer heartfelt sympathy to his wife Maureen, his daughter Eimear and his sons Sean, Ciaran and Conor as they face the loneliness of his passing.
For 35 years Charlie Haughey played a highly significant, central and leading role in national politics. A proud Irishman of considerable ability, charm, wit and intelligence, he was a skilled parliamentarian and an innovative legislator.
Over the long years of his dynamic career he weathered many storms and faced more than his share of drama and controversy.
He confronted his long final illness with much dignity, grace and courage. He was deeply loved and will be hugely missed by his family, supporters and many friends at home and abroad"
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.