Taoiseach declares Friday national day of mourning

The Taoiseach has declared a national day of mourning this Friday for the victims of the US terrorist attacks.

Mr Bertie Ahern

Mr Ahern asked all businesses, schools, colleges and entertainment enterprises to observe the day. The order will be signed this afternoon under the Working Time Act 1997 - creating an additional one-off public holiday. A the Omagh bombing in 1998 prompted a simliar day of mourning.

A request was also made by Mr Ahern for people to attend religious services on Friday.

European Union foreign ministers have also called a Europe-wide day of mourning on Friday, the British Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw said.

Mr Straw said the ministers, meeting in emergency session, asked citizens across the 15-nation bloc to observe three minutes' silence at 11 a.m. [Irish time] on Friday in a gesture of solidarity with Europe's guardian ally.

A cabinet meeting this morning agreed the Dail will be recalled next week. Mr Ahern said while a date has not yet been decided it will sit in the Seanad because the Dail Chamber is not available.

The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste offered their sympathies to President Bush and the American people. This morning he signed a book of condolences at the American Embassy in Dublin.

The Taoiseach also praised staff at the Department of Foreign Affairs who had worked through the night trying to contact and identify people. Mr Ahern said there was no definite information on the number of Irish people feared dead. Extra staff are being sent to the consulates in the US to continue the service.

Referring to the special relationship between Ireland and the US, Mr Ahern said practical assistance, such has individuals with fire fighting experience or engineering experience has been offered.

Speaking about the role Ireland will have to play through its membership of the Security Council, the Taoiseach said it was important the response of the world and the US was in line with best practice.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen will attend an EU Council meeting this afternoon to discuss a number of resolutions relating to yesterday's attack. Sympathies were also extended to the family of Ms Ruth Clifford McCourt and her three-year-old daughter, Julianne.

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