Ireland is moving towards permanent peace, remarkable prosperity, unparalleled influence and a brighter future for its children, President Clinton said when he visited the US multinational Gateway computer plant at Clonshaugh, Co Dublin, yesterday.
Mr Clinton and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, went there to sign digitally a US-Ireland communique on electronic commerce. It was the first time an agreement between two countries was digitally signed. Instead of writing their signatures with pens, it was done by inserting smartcards into a computer system. The communique sets down common principles for the development of electronic commerce. The US President said William Butler Yeats wrote his famous line in 1914, "In dreams begin responsibilities." He said Ireland had now moved from nightmares to dreams. "Ireland has assumed great responsibility. As a result, you are moving toward permanent peace, remarkable prosperity, unparalleled influence and a brighter tomorrow for your children. May the nightmares stay gone, the dreams stay bright and the responsibility bear easily on your shoulder, because the future is yours."
He thanked his audience for the warm reception it had given Senator George Mitchell, the chairman of the Northern Ireland peace talks. "You have no idea how much grief he gave me for giving him this job. You all voted for the agreement, and everything is basically going in the right direction, but it was like pulling fingernails for three years - everybody arguing out every word, every phrase, every semicolon. "In the middle of that George Mitchell was not all that happy I had asked him to undertake this duty. But when you stood up and clapped for him today, for the first time since I named him, he looked at me and said `thank you'. So thank you again, you made my day."
He paid tribute to the former Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton, for his work on the peace process.
His speech also included reference to the fact that there were now 470 American companies in Ireland - many in the information sector.
Mr Clinton paid tribute to Ireland's record on peace and human rights around the world, with former President Mary Robinson now serving internationally in that cause. President Clinton's support for efforts to achieve political agreement against the backdrop of peace and justice held a special place in the hearts of Irish people, North and South, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said .
"It is our prayer, just as it is yours, that the dark, heart-breaking days of Shankill, Greysteel, Omagh and all that sad litany of placenames, where life and hope were wounded and killed, are gone forever."
He said Mr Clinton had been a true friend of all democrats on this island, irrespective of their allegiance and regardless of their outlook.