FORMER BRITISH prime minister Tony Blair will be honoured by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at a special gala dinner in Dublin to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement.
The dinner, which will be held in Dublin Castle, will also be attended by Senator George Mitchell, who was an instrumental figure in brokering the 1998 accord.
The dinner will be held in the State Apartments of the castle on Friday, April 11th. It will be Mr Blair's first official engagement in Dublin since stepping down as prime minister last year.
In April last year, Mr Ahern was invited by Mr Blair to address a joint session of parliament in Westminster, in recognition of the part he played during the course of the peace process.
The event is being organised by the charitable organisation, Turn The Tide of Suicide (3Ts), and funds raised from the dinner will go to a number of North/South initiatives, including research support for an all-Ireland suicide survey as well as contributions to support centres across Dublin.
At its launch yesterday, Mr Ahern paid tribute to both Mr Blair and Mr Mitchell: "I have spent many years working with Tony Blair and George Mitchell to bring an end to the political difficulties that defined Northern Ireland and its people for far too long.
"The value of human life and its fragility was always foremost in our minds during that time."
Mr Ahern said the initiative in dealing with depression and suicide was another step in helping an understanding of the pain and grief many families have been forced to bear.
"I am also privileged that, on the week of the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement, Ireland will host two great men, Tony Blair and George Mitchell, and will have an opportunity to celebrate their contribution to a peaceful life on the island of Ireland," added Mr Ahern.
Speaking at the launch of the event, Noel Smyth, chairman of Turn the Tide of Suicide, said he was delighted that the three men who had helped shape a brighter future for Northern Ireland had lent their support to such an important project.
"The number one killer of young men in Ireland today is suicide, not cancer nor road deaths. It is difficult to accept that over 600 people in Ireland are estimated to die through suicide annually."
He said that 50 per cent of them were younger than 25 years and most of them were men.
This event is one of a number that are being organised over the next month, both North and South, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belfast Agreement.