The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement will be officially marked today, April the 10th.
It brought an end to 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland that cost 3,600 people their lives.
Cavan Monaghan Fianna Fail TD, Deputy Brendan Smith, says the Agreement ushered in a new dawn - one that brought peace to the island of Ireland.
He pointed out, that today is a day of reflection; a day to focus on the "massive achievement" that was the Good Friday Agreement, and on the all-island progress that has been made in the intervening years.
Deputy Smith added, that while it is disappointing to see the political institutions not up and running in Northern Ireland, the preservation of life and the success of the All-Ireland economy over the last 25 years are achievements that must be celebrated today.
"It's very important that people are aware, regardless of age group, of that desperate era that our country was subjected to for more than 3 decades. The loss of so many innocent lives, the maiming of people, permanent injuries caused to people, and of course the families who have lost loved ones and who have never got the truth as to who carried out the atrocity".
