The conditions for a "final completion" of the peace process have never been more promising, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said.
Speaking at Fianna Fáil's annual Wolfe Tone commemoration in Bodenstown, Co Kildare, yesterday, Mr Ahern said that in 200 years there had never been as much dialogue and interaction between the political groupings in Ireland as there was today.
He predicted that the St Andrews accord would "finally and fully" unlock the potential for permanent peace.
"We are at a precious moment in our history where a shared future lies before us," he said.
In an optimistic assessment of the prospects for a political settlement, the Taoiseach noted that the meeting at St Andrews took place against a background of the ending of the IRA campaign, the decommissioning of its weapons and the recent IMC report confirming that the IRA was honouring its commitments.
Last summer was also one of the most peaceful for decades, and this confluence of events offered "real hope and unprecedented opportunity".
"I believe the agreement at St Andrews will finally and fully unlock the massive potential for permanent peace and progress on this island.
"As they reflect on the agreement at St Andrews, the leaders of the Northern parties are carrying the burden of history on their shoulders. But I believe that they have the strength and capacity to deliver."
Mr Ahern urged the parties not to "walk away at the first challenge", and said the push for "final completion" must not be allowed to stall.
He also quoted the observations of DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley following the St Andrews talks. "He said at St Andrews that we were at a crossroads. He spoke of a new light that could shine on our children and our grandchildren. We do not agree on everything, but we fully share those sentiments," the Taoiseach said.
He praised British prime minister Tony Blair who had made an "extraordinary historic contribution to the consolidation of peace in Ireland".
Referring to former British prime minister William Gladstone's remarks in 1868 that his "mission is to pacify Ireland", Mr Ahern said: "It is Tony Blair who has actually achieved it."
Speaking to reporters after the event, Mr Ahern also said he was in favour in principle of a single all-Ireland corporation tax rate.
"It obviously would make trading in the island of Ireland better because what is happening now is more and more of the multinational companies that are in either part of Ireland are forced to have one corporate headquarters but two totally different accounting systems.
"So I think business people from the North - and they're united, unionist and nationalist - are putting forward a very strong case."