A ceremony to honour men and women who died in wars or on service with the United Nations was held yesterday at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin.
The President, Mrs McAleese, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and representatives of the major faiths in the Republic, relatives of the leaders of the 1916 Rising and of those who died on UN service were present.
The President laid a wreath during the inter-faith service and a minute's silence was observed. The Taoiseach said it was fitting to remember those who had died.
Prayers were read by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Walton Empey, the Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Jim Moriarty, the District Superintendent of the Methodist Church, the Rev Thomas Kingston, the Rev Alan Martin of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Rev Alwyn Shulman of the Jewish Community in Ireland.
Dr Bernadette Greevy sang hymns accompanied by the Army No 1 Band. The ceremony was attended by the diplomatic corps, judiciary and members of the Dail and Seanad. Representatives from the Government included the Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell; the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen; the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke; the Minister for Education and Science, Dr Woods; the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith; the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern; and the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Ms Mary Hanafin.
Other political representatives included the Fine Gael TDs Mr Alan Dukes and Mr Jim Mitchell and the Labour TDs Ms Liz McManus and Mr Brendan Howlin.
Afterwards, the Minister for Foreign Affairs hosted a luncheon in Dublin Castle in honour of the diplomatic corps. Mr Cowen spoke about the challenges ahead regarding Northern Ireland.
"The Good Friday agreement is a charter for change which commits the participants to the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance and mutual trust, and to the protection and vindication of human rights of all," the Minister said.
He said international challenges included response to HIV/AIDS and the international war crimes tribunal. He reiterated the Government's support for an enlarged Europe and European integration.