The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, yesterday strongly defended the record of the President, Mrs McAleese, on building peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland amid controversy over her comments comparing some unionists to the Nazis over their irrational hatred of Catholics.
Mr Ahern said it would be inappropriate for him to comment on Mrs McAleese's remarks but he said the Government was deeply grateful to her for the work she has done in building reconciliation between the two sides of the community in the North since becoming President.
"It would be totally inappropriate for me to comment on the President's remarks but I'd like to say that the Government are very grateful for the work that the President puts in all of the time in building up peace and reconciliation with both sides of the community in the North. I think what she's done over the last seven years in building peace and reconciliation has been enormously positive and I know that is the view of people through all sectors in Northern Ireland and anyone looking at what she's done since she was elected would see that."
Mr Ahern also pointed out that Mrs McAleese's recent inauguration in November for a second term was the first time that people from both sides of the community divide in the North were represented at such an event.
"The fact that at her inauguration in November quite recently, that everybody was represented for the first time ever from all sides - that was something that was enormously helpful," said Mr Ahern.
Mrs McAleese provoked an angry response from unionist politicians when, during a radio interview she pointed out that anti-Semitism that existed for decades had been built upon by the Nazis.