Taoiseach welcomes Pope's New Year message

The Taoiseach has welcomed the Pope's World Day of Peace message for the New Year. He says the Pope's call for greater tolerance of other cultures has a particular reference for people in Ireland as it becomes more multicultural.

"I would exhort all," he said "to strive for a society where each one of us is treated on his or her own merits and not on the basis of prejudice".

Bertie Ahern also says the call has a strong resonance in relation to the Northern peace process. There, he says, the Troubles came about because of the absence of true equality and respect for all cultures, traditions and human rights in all parts of the community. He adds that the theme is especially appropriate for 2001, which the United Nations has declared as the International Year of Dialogue Between Civilisations.