Taoiseach's Press Releases 2001
2001 was in some ways a difficult year for many in our community, with unanticipated events both nationally and internationally. By working together we can be proud of all our efforts to respond to these events. Ireland can also be proud of its role in international affairs.
The Ombudsman's Report on the Omagh bombing, which was released today, raises many questions and makes a number of recommendations. It is important that these should be addressed in a manner which ensures that the people of Northern Ireland, and particularly those most immediately affected by the bombing, can be satisfied that there is the fullest possible clarity and accounting for what happened in the lead-up to the bombing and in the investigation which followed.
The Taoiseach today announced the appointment of a new Information Society Commission. It will be chaired by Mr Danny O' Hare, former president of Dublin City University (DCU). The new Information Society Commission will have a key role in shaping the evolving public policy framework for the Information Society in Ireland. It will act as an independent advisory body to Government, reporting directly to the Taoiseach, and will draw on high-level representation from the business community, the social partners, and government itself.
The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., has received an Interim Report dealing with aspects of Aviation Policy from the Ad Hoc Interdepartmental Group on Visitor Issues which was established to propose measures to meet the challenges faced by the Irish economy in the wake of the September 11th atrocities in the United States.
I warmly congratulate David Trimble and Mark Durkan on their election as First Minister and Deputy First Minister. I applaud the efforts of the pro-Agreement parties in coming together in a spirit of co-operation to ensure that the challenge to the Good Friday Agreement was successfully addressed.
I am naturally disappointed at the failure of the Northern Ireland Assembly to elect David Trimble and Mark Durkan as First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern T.D., sent a letter of condolence to Mr. Ariel Sharon, M.K., Prime Minister of Israel, conveying sympathy on the death of Mr. Rehavam Ze'evy, M.K., Minister of Tourism, who was assassinated in a Jerusalem hotel earlier today
State honours will be extended for the funerals of the ten volunteers of the War of Independence who were executed in Mountjoy Prison in 1920/21.
The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D. has announced that the inaugural meeting of the National Forum on Europe will take place in St. Patrick's Hall, Dublin Castle, on Thursday, 18 October, 2001 at 3 p.m.
State Funerals will be held on 14th October, 2001 for: -Kevin Barry, Thomas Bryan, Patrick Doyle, Frank Flood, Patrick Moran, Thomas Whelan,Bernard Ryan, Thomas Traynor, Edmond Foley and Patrick Maher each of whom were tried and sentenced to death by Military Court Martial in 1920/1921.