Ahern pays tribute to public’s response to disaster

IT will take South-East Asia many years to recover from the devastation wreaked by the 2004 tsunami, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said.

But the rebuilding of both lives and livelihoods was already well underway, he said, and Irish people could be proud of the part they were playing in this.

Ireland has contributed over €100 million to the relief effort, consisting of over €80m in private contributions and €20m from the Government.