Taoiseach Bertie Ahern reflects on the peace process and the Lisbon Treaty at a ceremony for the leaders of the Easter Rising.
Before his 14th address at the commemoration for the 1916 leaders, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern took the opportunity to issue a warning over the Lisbon Treaty.
The latest poll results show that the yes margin in favour of the Lisbon Treaty is at just 4 per cent. Responding to the poll results, Mr Ahern said that objecting to the treaty would have damaging repercussions for the country.
It would be a disaster for this country not to pass it.
Mr Ahern further stated that the agricultural community should be leading the campaign for a yes vote as they will benefit the most.
In his keynote address at the commemoration ceremony, the Taoiseach said that he hoped this generation had learned the futility of violence.
Because of the conflict on the island, thousands of people died, thousands more were injured. Thousands of families were left broken and grieving without fathers or mothers, sons or daughters, brothers or sisters. And this happened in our country in our lifetime.
Mr Ahern laid a wreath at Arbour Hill Cemetery and 32 children laid Easter lillies, representing the 32 counties of Ireland, on the national plot.
The poll results on the Lisbon Treaty demonstrate the scale of the challenge facing the Taoiseach's successor Brian Cowen. Mr Ahern issued a rallying call to his Fianna Fáil party to push for a yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty Referendum which will take place on 8 June.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 27 April 2008. The reporter is Brian Dowling.
