Bertie Ahern will tomorrow make his first visit to Belfast since leaving
government to receive an honorary degree from Queen's University.
He will be joined by former Prime Minister Tony Blair who is being presented
with a doctorate.
Both ex-Premiers will become Doctors of Law for distinction in public
service, in recognition of their rolesin the peace process.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson, who will confer the degrees, said: "
When Tony Blair first sat down at his desk in Downing Street and when Bertie
Ahern became Taoiseach, they must both have been tempted to take the files
marked Northern Ireland and push them to one side.
"There were many important things for both of them to do, and Northern
Ireland had defeated many premiers before them. Some called them brave,
others foolhardy, but Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern took up the challenge, and
we have all benefited.
"Northern Ireland today has its own administration, with politicians
from all political persuasions working together for the common good of their
people. "Queen's University is proud to honour both men for the key
roles they played in bringing peace to Northern Ireland."
The presentations are to come at the beginning of a major Queen's conference
which is to explore the lessons to be learned "from Northern Ireland's
experience of peace-building and regeneration".
Chaired by the man who brokered the Good Friday deal in 1998, Senator George
Mitchell, the two-day event will examine "how Northern Ireland's recent
transformation can inspire others in conflict zones across the globe."
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