IRELAND: The President, Mrs McAleese, led three minutes of silence yesterday morning for the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and members of the Cabinet also observed the period of silence at 11 a.m.
Mrs McAleese was joined at Arás an Uachtaráin by members of the diplomatic corps and representatives from more than 20 Irish and international aid agencies which are assisting in the relief effort.
A drummer and a piper from the Defence Forces took part in the ceremony, which was attended also by representatives from some the countries worst affected by the disaster.
They included the Indian ambassador, Mr Saurabh Kumar, and the Swedish ambassador, Mr Niils Daag.
The honorary consul of Sri Lanka, Dr Aelred Samarakoon, and honorary consul of Indonesia, Mr Ray Sisson, were also in attendance.
Mr Ahern and other Ministers interrupted the first Cabinet meeting of the new year to observe the silence in Government Buildings.
They were joined by the Taoiseach's aide-de-camp, Comdt Michael Murray, and more than 100 staff members of the Department of the Taoiseach.
Throughout the day, the Tricolour flew at half mast from public buildings.
The three minutes' silence was observed in offices, shops and various other public places, including train and bus stations, and Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports.
According to Aer Rianta, all aircraft were grounded until the period of remembrance had elapsed.
On the steps of Arás an Uachtaráin, Mrs McAleese was joined by her husband, Martin, to observe the three minutes' silence .
Other members of the resident diplomatic corps in attendance were: Mr Jonathan Benton (US), Dr Gottfried Haas (Germany), Mr Toheed Ahmad (Pakistan), Mr Truls Hanevold (Norway), Mr Ján Gábor, Mr Ivars Lacis (Latvia), Mr Luís Quartin Graca (Portugal), Mr Rashid Hassanpour Bael (Iran), Dr John Herron (Australia), Mr Datuk Ali Abdullah (Malaysia), Mr Ted Hallett (Britain), Mr Frédéric Grasset (France), and Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto (Papal Nuncio).
Among the other honorary consular representatives present were Mr Ron Bolger (Singapore), Mr John Ferris (Philippines), and Mr Alan McCarthy (New Zealand).