English: Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, Senator Jerry Buttimer, will today welcome former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to address the Seanad on the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Speaking in advance of the address at 3p.m. The Cathaoirleach, Senator Buttimer said “Yesterday marked 25 years since the historic referenda on this island, which saw an overwhelming majority of people, North and South of the border, vote in favour of the Good Friday Agreement. This overwhelming democratic endorsement of the Agreement demonstrated that people north and south, irrespective of creed or background, would not accept the violence of the past.

It is appropriate that, today, this House marks the overwhelming democratic support given to the Good Friday Agreement by the people of Ireland in those twin referendums, the first time since 1918 that the whole island voted together. The overwhelming democratic endorsement of the Agreement was the beginning of the end of three decades of conflict.

Nothing was inevitable about the process and it took the strong leadership of Mr Ahern, along with other key figures across all parties to win the peace that the people of Ireland, both North and South, so desperately wanted. Mr Ahern’s leadership was strong not in the sense of coercing people or imposing on them, but in compromise, creativity and courage. As Cathaoirleach I look forward to welcoming the former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to address Seanad Éireann on the milestone in peace that is the Good Friday Agreement.”

The address to Seanad Éireann will be broadcast live on Oireachtas TV.