Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has issued a statement paying tribute to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern following his announcement that he is standing down in May this year.
Mr McGuinness said: “Few people have given as much of their time and energy to the peace process here as Bertie Ahern. He has been deeply involved for many years and the personal input that he made was reflected when he came straight from the graveside of his own mother to participate in a particularly delicate stage of the negotiations.”
