President Michael D Higgins has hailed the transformation of relations between Britain and Ireland, from doubt to trust and mutual respect. In a historic address to Britain’s Houses of Parliament — the first time Ireland’s head of state has been given the honour — Mr Higgins said the two countries now have a closeness that once seemed unachievable.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday declared that “Ireland’s hour has come” in an historic address in Westminster to the joint houses of the English parliament.

BERTIE Ahern will become the first Taoiseach to address a joint session of the House of Commons and the House of Lords at Westminster this morning.