The President, Mrs Robinson, has said a sustainable peace in Northern Ireland cannot be achieved without risks being taken, and that political representatives could look to the voluntary sector, which has given "the leadership of taking risks".
Speaking yesterday during her last visit to Northern Ireland as President, Mrs Robinson referred to the publication, Taking Risks for Peace, produced by the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust. "Perhaps those who have a political responsibility can look to those who have already given the leadership of taking risks, of reaching out, of being prepared to listen, and to do more than listen, to listen and to respond to the others."
A special function, "A Celebration of Peace and Reconciliation", in honour of Mrs Robinson was hosted in Belfast by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action and the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust. It was attended by more than 400 community and voluntary representatives.
Mrs Robinson said the function, which included poetry readings, mime and music from both traditions in the North, would be "one of the most enduring and happy memories of my seven years".
At a press conference later, President Robinson said she believed peace and reconciliation were closer now than at any stage during her Presidency.
"It is even potentially within grasp, if risks for peace people have taken in their own lives can be reflected in the more difficult circumstances of a political framework. It is not easy, but there is leadership and that leadership is from the bottom up, as so often happens," she said.
When asked about the disapproval from some quarters of her regular visits to the North, Mrs Robinson said she had not accepted even a quarter of the invitations she had received, and that she had been conscious of trying to maintain "an appropriate level of visiting". She had wished not only to remain within the proper constitutional framework of her own work, "but also to be in real friendship with no hidden agenda".
Mr David Cook, chairman of the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, praised Mrs Robinson's long-standing commitment to the development and protection of human, civil and political rights. He referred to her resignation from the Labour Party over the Anglo-Irish Agreement as a good example of her commitment to political principle.
"She has brought a commitment to inclusion during her Presidency, and has done an enormous amount to build greater understanding between the political communities that share these islands, and between the two communities in Northern Ireland." President Robinson later attended a reception hosted by the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM), where she met representatives of a number of ethnic groups including Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, and the travelling community.
NICEM spokesman, Mr Suneil Sharma, praised the President for her record in respecting diversity and said her Presidency had been unique. He said she was not just a figurehead, "but someone whose door was open to all in society".
Mrs Robinson praised the work of NICEM and said Belfast was a multi-cultural city. It was important "to take on board and respect that voice of diversity".
In a relaxed and informal atmosphere, the President then invited a community worker whom she recognised in the audience to sing a song for her on this her final visit to Northern Ireland as President.
After leaving Belfast, Mrs Robinson went to Dungannon, where she launched a cross-Border advice and information service.
The new service, which has received funding from the EU Peace and Reconciliation Fund, will be provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau in Northern Ireland and by Citizens Information centres in the Republic.
Later, Mrs Robinson visited the Navan Centre in Armagh and the site of Navan Fort, the ancient civil and religious capital of Ulster.