Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mr John Hume has proposed that the Government issue certificates of Irishness for all people in the world who claim Irish extraction. He also proposed a European peace and reconciliation force.
Mr Hume was speaking at a ceremony in Cork on Saturday where he was conferred with the freedom of the city.
The Derry-born peace activist and politician joins former US president, John F. Kennedy, Dr Woodrow Wilson and Senator George Mitchell, among other dignitaries, who have received the honour at Cork City Hall.
Mr Hume and his wife, Pat, were joined by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Colm Burke. Cllr Burke told the audience of 400 invited guests that the freedom was conferred on Mr Hume for his "exceptional commitment" to the cause of reconciliation in Ireland and also for the "pivotal role" he played in securing the Belfast Agreement.
He said Mr Hume was a "living testament to that fundamental principle of peace - respect for diversity".
The Cork poet Thomas McCarthy read from his poem A Medallion for John Hume and local traditional musicians, Meitheal, played.
The day's events came to an end as Mr Hume accepted an invitation by Cllr Burke to sing Danny Boy. It was a moment of obvious emotion for Mr Hume as the audience sang along with him.
Speaking afterwards to The Irish Times, Mr Hume said: "I am very honoured and very moved to receive the freedom of Cork, particularly because of the predecessors that have received this great honour. This is not simply an award to myself, but a very clear and strong statement of support for the peace process in Northern Ireland."
He said he believed that it was time for the Ireland to harness the power of the Irish diaspora.
"There are 73 million people of Irish descent all over the world and maybe the time has come to harness this. The first step in this would be for the Government to issue a certificate of Irishness - maybe they could charge €10. Not alone would it be very good for our Irish economy but because we are not in conflict with any other nation, it could help to build a world that is free of any war," he said.
Mr Hume also said that Europe was a model for conflict resolution and that the EU should establish an institution of peace and reconciliation. Such an organisation would send a team to flashpoints of dissent around the world to initiate a tribunal of reconciliation similar to that held in South Africa.
Mr Hume called on the British and Irish governments to put an end to the stalemate among Northern political parties.
"What must be remembered is that the people of Ireland voted together as to how we should live together. Therefore the Governments should simply state to all parties that it is the duty of all true democrats to fully implement the Good Friday agreement.
"The real Northern Ireland isn't a line on a map. People have worked together over the years to break that down but it will be based on agreement and respect for difference," he added.
Mr Hume said he was frustrated that health problems forced him out of the European Parliament.
"I regret that I have been forced to step down. It was a very sad week for me in Strasbourg, but I haven't thought about what I am going to do yet."