Ahern speech to reflect on Ireland and Britain’s shared history

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.

He will address the British houses of parliament shortly after noon, becoming the 32nd world leader to have been afforded that privilege.

He was extended the invitation by soon-to-retire Prime Minister Tony Blair in recognition of their close partnership in working on the Northern peace process since 1997, when both were first elected to power.