Former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald is seriously ill in a Dublin hospital.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, on a trip to New York, offered his prayers and paid tribute to his former party leader, describing him as an institution.

“Ireland does not deserve to lose such an institution,” the Taoiseach said.

Mr Kenny added that he hoped Dr FitzGerald would recover.

It is understood the 85-year-old is being treated at the Mater Private hospital in Dublin with his family at his bedside.

Dr FitzGerald served as Taoiseach twice in the 1980s in the 17th and 19th governments. He led two coalitions from July 1981 to December 1982 and again from December 1982 to June 1987.

He was at the helm when the Anglo-Irish Agreement was struck with former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in 1985.