NORTH REACTION:THE NORTH'S First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, and the Northern Secretary, Shaun Woodward, yesterday led what were mainly generous tributes from Northern Ireland politicians to Bertie Ahern.
Dr Paisley, wishing Mr Ahern well, said that both he and the Taoiseach operated as equals, "not as one trying to assimilate the other". In contrast with other taoisigh he enjoyed a good working relationship with him because he was prepared to recognise that unionists "had no interest in being part of a united Ireland".
The DUP leader praised Mr Ahern for being the first Taoiseach to have the "maturity and responsibility" to "recognise the sacrifice made by soldiers from the Republic" who fought with the British army in two world wars.
"The DUP firmly believes in sensible co-operation with our nearest neighbour and Mr Ahern recognised our position and moved on to it. He came to realise that politically motivated 'north-southery' with a nationalist trajectory was never going to be acceptable to our community and he conducted himself accordingly," Dr Paisley added.
Ian Paisley jnr said Mr Ahern was a "giant" in building relationships. "While others talked about being bridge builders, he has built real relationships," he said.
Northern Secretary Mr Woodward said Mr Ahern was a "great" figure. "If you meet with him personally you can't help but like him, if you work with him you couldn't help but be impressed by his determination and I think we'd all do well just to reflect on what this man was prepared to give, not just inside his own country, where of course he transformed the economy of the Republic, but in the peace process itself," he added.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams recognised Mr Ahern's "important contribution" to the peace process. The Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said "few people have given as much of their time and energy to the peace process here as Bertie Ahern".
Former SDLP leader John Hume said Mr Ahern's contribution to the peace process could not be overestimated. SDLP leader Mark Durkan said Mr Ahern could be "proud not just of his own achievements in office in Ireland and Europe but also of the achievements he has helped to make possible for others and, in the future, for all of us".
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said that Mr Ahern played a critical role in the peace process and that the removal of the territorial claim on the North in Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution helped improve the relationship between unionists and the Republic.
Alliance leader David Ford said Mr Ahern was a positive figure who was prepared to extend the hand of friendship to Northern Ireland. "I trust his successor will continue the good relations," he said.
Progressive Unionist Party leader Dawn Purvis said Mr Ahern sought to understand loyalism and loyalists and to ensure that they played a role in creating peace.
Traditional Unionist Voice MEP Jim Allister said: "With Blair, [ Peter] Hain, Paisley and Ahern gone, or going, within the year, the revived Belfast Agreement has not for them proved very propitious. Their shared legacy of unrepentant terrorists at the heart of a rigged form of government is not something in which any of them should take pride."
The Workers' Party said Mr Ahern's legacy would be one of "betrayal and lost opportunities".
