Statement from the Taoiseach on the 23rd anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement

It is appropriate as we mark the 23rd anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement to use the occasion to reflect on what has been achieved.

It marked a new beginning - a new era of peace and mutual respect – grounded in the principle of consent, peaceful politics, democratic institutions, reconciliation and cooperation.

The Good Friday Agreement also introduced a new ethos of tolerance, equality and mutual respect to underpin the new institutional landscape.

The island of Ireland has truly become a completely different place in the last 23 years, because of the Good Friday Agreement.

This has been a period of building trust, developing relationships, changing attitudes, and improving the lives of people on all parts of the island.

It is important that we remind ourselves how far we have come and to continue to be profoundly grateful, to all of those at community level, who continue to work quietly every day and behind the scene, for peace and reconciliation.

To borrow from an often-used phrase “The Good Friday Agreement is our precious inheritance and our foundation for future relationships”.

Perhaps, its most visible success is that a whole generation of young people have grown up not knowing or experiencing the violence that accompanied the troubles.

We owe it to the Agreement Generation and indeed future generations not to spiral back to that dark place of sectarian murders and political discord.

There is now a particular onus on those of us who currently hold the responsibility of political leadership to step forward and play our part and ensure that this cannot happen.

I am determined to work with the British Government, the Executive and all political parties to protect the Good Friday Agreement, in all its parts.