Referring to decommissioning and policing, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern told the House that he fully expected to see full implementation of all aspects of the Good Friday agreement.
"And I hope that in a spirit of co-operation and friendship we can surmount any problems that arise, to ensure that the peace and stability we have striven so hard to achieve, endures for future generations and is paralleled by a process of healing and of reconciliation, such as was symbolised by yesterday's meeting in Armagh.
"For the first time, elected ministers drawn from both our great traditions and from both parts of Ireland, were gathered together in a legally established and agreed structure, with a shared objective, to work for the common good of all the people."
Mr Ahern said there was in place now in Northern Ireland a unique system of governance that dealt with the reality of a divided society.
The challenge was for everyone, ministers, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of committees, and all Assembly members, to work together on a cross-party basis, to bring a new deal for the people of the North. He firmly believed that this could be done.
He said he proposed to initiate appropriate consultations with a view to instituting a Day of Remembrance for those who had lost their lives as a result of the conflict. This idea had been put forward by the former Tanaiste, Mr John Wilson who had been appointed as Victims Commissioner.
Mr Maurice Manning (FG) said that while it seemed as if the northern tragedy was at an end, it was time to walk warily.
"There are evil men on both sides who have not gone away, who have no intention of going away and even now are plotting to wreck what has been achieved. Of that we can be certain, and hard things may yet have to be done by the new rulers of Northern Ireland."