MR John Hume made a renewed plea yesterday to the IRA to restore the ceasefire and take the gun out of Irish politics forever.
The SDLP leader was given a standing ovation when he told 450 councillors at the opening of the annual conference of the Local Authority Members Association in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, that he was continuing to work with the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, to seek a resumption of the IRA cessation.
Councillors present included unionists from the North and members of the British Association of District Councillors.
"We are hopeful our efforts will be successful," Mr Hume said, adding: "I am not asking the IRA to respond to governments but to the wishes of the mass of Irish people at home and abroad who, want peace - and have experienced it for the past two years.
He said he was satisfied from its latest communication that the IRA was still willing to embrace a negotiated settlement and engage in "unarmed struggle" to achieve its objectives.
Mr Hume said he believed lock authorities provided a common working ground for communities to come together and break down barriers which are no longer realistic in a new Europe.
He felt the unionist and nationalist traditions had both made a major contribution to commerce on this island and overseas, so it was imperative that they came together by agreement rather than by coercion.
During an open session Mr Jim Currie, a councillor from Ballymena, Co Antrim, praised Mr Hume's public recognition of the contribution by the Presbyterian community in the North.
During a debate on cross Border tourism, Mr Malt McNulty, director general, of Bord Failte, said it was optimistic of, a huge increase in visitor spending. He urged more investment in the industry, adding that what is required are "must visit" attractions in all parts of the country.
Mr Sean McEniff, chairman of North West Tourism, said extra funding is vital, for tourism promotion. Committees were impotent if they did not receive a sufficient financial back up for projects.
Mr Joe Gavin, Monaghan county manager, called for special assistance for areas which failed to keep apace of tourism improvements. He also recommended a new grading scheme for B & B accommodation, which he said was the cornerstone of the industry.