‘We witnessed events that will define our time’

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.

Mr Ahern became only the 32nd world leader since 1939 to be bestowed with the honour of addressing the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The invitation was extended by the retiring British Prime Minister Tony Blair in recognition of the return of devolved government to the North of Ireland and Mr Ahern’s decade-long engagement with the peace process.