"Our prayer has been answered. Our faith has been rewarded. After so many decades of conflict, I am so proud, Madam Speaker, to be the first Irish leader to inform the United States Congress: Ireland is at peace."

THE TAOISEACH was given a standing ovation during an historic address to a joint meeting of the United States Congress in Washington yesterday

"Our dream, and the dream of all of the friends of Ireland in America and across the world, has come true. To you, to your predecessors and to all of the American leaders from both sides of the aisle who have travelled with us, we offer our heartfelt gratitude

"We also recognise the steadfast support of President Bush, of President Clinton, their administrations, their envoys and of their predecessors and for us the great Senator George Mitchell,"

"When we needed true champions of peace, when we needed true friends, when we needed inspiration, we found them here. We found them among you."