Tánaiste Brian Cowen today urged politicians throughout Ireland to continue to work to implement the Belfast Agreement in order to ensure the future peace and prosperity of Ireland.
Mr Cowen, who was elected leader-designate of Fianna Fáil yesterday, paid tribute in the Dáil to the courage and conviction of the signees of the accord in 1998.
"In the Republic we should reassess our views in what ways we may become more open and tolerant so that others may not be so defensive towards us" - Taoiseach-in-waiting Brian Cowen
The Minister for Finance, who represented the Government in the Dáil today for the first time as Taoiseach-in-waiting, said work is ongoing on the implementation of the Agreement.
“There is a huge job of work to be done for the spirit of the Agreement to be implemented as well as its provisions,” he said. “The quality of the implementation is dependent on the spirit of the Agreement being embraced by all.”
At a press conference marking his assumption the mantle of leader-designate of Fianna Fáil yesterday, Mr Cowen said the party would continue its commitment to the Northern Ireland peace process and the all-island economy.
In the Dáil today he added: “In the Republic we should reassess our views in what ways we may become more open and tolerant so that others may not be so defensive towards us, in the interests of political progress.
“The need for us to address those issues in all parts of Ireland is the best tribute we can pay to all of those who ten years ago had the courage of their convictions to sign up to the Agreement.”
The 10th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement on Good Friday, 1998, is being marked at a symposium in Belfast today. The event is being attended by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former US senator George Mitchell, along with many of the most prominent figures in brokering the deal.