THE TAOISEACH was given a standing ovation during an historic address to a joint meeting of the United States Congress in Washington yesterday when he declared: "Ireland is at peace." STEPHEN COLLINS, Political Editor, in Washington
In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Ahern made a plea on behalf of the undocumented Irish immigrants in the US and expressed the hope that the Irish people will vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty on June 12th.
He reminded his audience that it was now the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement and he expressed gratitude to all the American leaders who had contributed to the process.
"Our prayer has been answered. Our faith has been rewarded. After so many decades of conflict, I am so proud, Madam Speaker, to be the first Irish leader to inform the United States Congress: Ireland is at peace."
The remark was greeted by a standing ovation from the members of Congress and from Mr Ahern's Government colleagues, friends and supporters in the visitors' gallery.
"Our dream, and the dream of all of the friends of Ireland in America and across the world, has come true. To you, to your predecessors and to all of the American leaders from both sides of the aisle who have travelled with us, we offer our heartfelt gratitude.
"We also recognise the steadfast support of President Bush, of President Clinton, their administrations, their envoys and of their predecessors and for us the great Senator George Mitchell," said Mr Ahern.
"When we needed true champions of peace, when we needed true friends, when we needed inspiration, we found them here. We found them among you."
On the future of Europe, Mr Ahern recalled that two great Irish Americans, President Kennedy in 1963 and President Reagan in 1987, stood at the Berlin Wall and called out for freedom in Germany and in Europe.
Recalling the expansion of the EU during the Irish presidency in 2004, Mr Ahern said that for many of the new members it was a moment that would have been unthinkable only a few years earlier.
"I passionately believe in Europe and I passionately believe in the European Union as a force for good in the world. It is profoundly encouraging that we are seeing the members of the European Union continuing to rise together as a force for development, for stability, for peace in the world.
"Soon, the Irish people will vote on a new reform treaty that aims to make the European Union work even more effectively, both internally and in the wider world. I trust in their wisdom to support and to believe in Europe, as they always have," he said.
The Taoiseach also raised the issue of the undocumented Irish migrant community in the US. "We hope you will be able to find a solution to their plight that would enable them to regularise their status and open to them a path to permanent residency," he said.
Mr Ahern added that there was a wider issue for Congress to address and it was the definitive right of the two Houses to address it in line with the interests of the American people.
He told his audience that September 11th, 2001, was one of the most terrible, evil events in world history and it was a day that was etched into the memory of all humanity.
In recognition of the bravery of all who died that day he invited Chief Robert Sweeney of the New York Fire Department and Officer Steve McDonald of the police department to hear his address.
The Taoiseach reiterated Ireland's commitment to developing countries and pointed out that Ireland was the sixth largest per capita donor of assistance in the world.
"For us, famine and oppression are not tragedies that could only happen elsewhere.
"They happened to us at a sad time in our history. They happened to those who fled here and helped build America and to the many who did not survive that fateful journey across the ocean," he said.
Mr Ahern also expressed support for the United Nations and said that for over half a century Irish men and women had served the cause of peace under the UN flag.
He pointed out that Irish soldiers were currently in Chad as part of a UN-mandated force led by an Irish officer to protect hundreds of thousands of refugees.
The Taoiseach concluded his address by echoing the inaugural address of President Kennedy in 1961, saying: "In history, in politics and in life there are no ends, only beginnings. Let us begin."