IRELAND will step up its continued support of human rights globally, as it seeks election to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Taoiseach announced.

Former President Mary McAleese and her husband Senator Martin McAleese will both receive the 2011 Tipperary International Peace Award.

The Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI would gladly use a solar-powered electric popemobile as another sign of his efforts to promote sustainable energy and take care of the planet, but one has yet to be offered.

POPE Benedict XVI has called for respect of all people without discrimination and the protection of children from war and violence as he celebrated the start of the new year.

The Pope today called for urgent action to protect the environment, saying that climate change and natural catastrophes threaten basic human rights such as life, food and health.

POPE BENEDICT XVI has challenged world leaders to make significant changes to the global financial system, saying short-term answers to the financial crisis weren’t sufficient.

SPECTACULAR fireworks and light shows heralded the start of 2009 in cities across the world, but here revellers made do with house parties and the faithful charms of the pub.

ONE of the themes of the homily delivered by Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin at a Mass celebrating World Day of Peace yesterday was the protection of the weak and vulnerable.

The pope today challenged world leaders to make major changes to the global financial system, saying short-term answers to the financial crisis were not sufficient.

HUNGER and poverty around the world should not be ignored as richer nations come to terms with the global economic crisis, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, said in his message to mark January 1 2009 — the World Day of Peace.

ASSASSINATED Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto is to posthumously receive the 2007 Tipperary Peace Prize, it was announced yesterday.

POPE BENEDICT XVI opened the new year yesterday with an appeal for world peace, calling it a divine gift and stressing the role of family as the foundation for it.

Assassinated Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto is to posthumously receive the 2007 Tipperary Peace Prize, it was announced today.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will today preside at a special mass in Dublin to mark the World Day of Peace.

LEBANON’S former prime minister, the late Rafik Hariri, was yesterday named the 2005 Tipperary International Peace Award winner.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday backed a call from the Pope for the institutions of the UN to be renewed to enable it respond better to an adapting world.

Lebanon’s former prime minister, the late Rafic Hariri, was named today as the 2005 Tipperary International Peace Award winner.

A new landscape of opportunity for peace in Ireland has been created by the IRA’s decision to renounce violence, President Mary McAleese said today.

POPE John Paul rang in the New Year yesterday with a renewed call for peace in the Middle East and Africa and the creation of a new world order based on respect for the dignity of man and equality among nations.

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, says he is sure that Ireland will give a high priority to Africa’s problems during its presidency of the EU.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, sent greetings to the Pope today to mark the opening of Ireland’s spell of European Union presidency.

In the first address of Ireland’s EU presidency, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has highlighted the need for increased security within the European Union.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has said that the Government will seek to ensure greater security and safety in the European Union during Ireland’s EU presidency.

A TOP Vatican official said yesterday he felt pity and compassion for Saddam Hussein and criticised the US military for showing video footage of him being treated “like a cow”.

Pope John Paul opened 2003 today with a fresh call for an end to the “fratricidal and senseless” conflict in the Middle East.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today sounded a note of caution for the country’s economy in the year ahead.

The Taoiseach has welcomed the Pope's World Day of Peace message for the New Year.