"I think we are very satisfied that we have now succeeded in overcoming the last difficult hurdles that are standing in the way of the implementation of the Good Friday agreement," the Taoiseach said in a statement to a press conference outside Hillsborough Castle.
Standing alongside the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, the Taoiseach said, in full:
"I want at the outset, to thank all of the party leaders, the First Minister, Deputy First Minister and all of their colleagues in the Assembly and the wider party delegations for the enormous time that they've put in with us since Monday afternoon last and all of their officials and all of those involved here and in Stormont as well.
"I want to thank, once again, Tony Blair, who has put in an enormous amount of effort into what happens on this island and while, I think, one would have forgiven him for being elsewhere, he managed this week to deal with both jobs in difficult circumstances and that meant little sleep, if any, and I do appreciate on behalf of everybody here, when he has so many other pressing engagements, that he gave all this week.
"I would also like to be associated with his remarks about President Clinton who, once again, made so many calls and takes such a keen interest and always helps. I want to thank the Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam and her ministerial colleagues, my own colleagues, Ministers Andrews, John O'Donoghue, Liz O'Donnell who have been with me all week.
"I think we are very satisfied that we have now succeeded in overcoming the last difficult hurdles that are standing in the way of the implementation of the Good Friday agreement. I have no doubt that we have achieved that. The spirit of peace has prevailed, everyone has contributed to a resolution to the remaining problems, not least through the imaginative gesture of a collective act of reconciliation.
"The outcome itself of this week of intensive discussions makes a powerful contribution to reconciliation based on a new spirit of dialogue, of partnership on an inclusive basis. We can now look forward to the early establishment of all the institutions as outlined by the Prime Minister and I believe very quickly, as for the timings in the declaration and the decisions and announcements of the Chairman of the International Commission on Decommissioning, Gen John de Chastelain.
"Now we can move with these institutions with their full powers, invested with their full powers and the creation of a new and positive dynamic in the politics of this island. There is a responsibility, ladies and gentlemen, on all of us to take the final necessary steps for all of this to come about. There will inevitably be dangers and setbacks ahead as always, but we can, I think, now be sure that the spirit of democracy contained in the Good Friday Agreement will win out against all the negative and destructive forces that we've had to deal with over the years.
"The interest and support of the people in the realisation of peace and the will for it to succeed remain, as always, vital. It's a year now since the Good Friday agreement was concluded. In May it was emphatically endorsed by the people North and South.
"The agreement, in its own words, offers a historic opportunity for a new beginning. It gives a chance for this generation to transcend the bitter legacy of the past and to transform the relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South and between these islands.
"And if I can say, Prime Minister, and I know you share it, the atmosphere, the friendship, the dialogue that was there this time, these days, though difficult negotiations, was entirely different from what it was a year ago and I hope that can continue to move on, that people of different traditions and parties and politics can work together to find resolutions, not agreeing on everything but agreeing on the matter of being civil and helpful and cordial to each other.
"The realisation of that future places heavy obligations on us all, individually and collectively and, I think, the implementation in full of the agreement is inevitably going to be lengthy and complex but it will involve continual effort and commitment on all our parts and we will do that.
"It's encouraging and important that even though much remains to be done, very substantial progress has been made this week and I believe what we've agreed in this declaration and what will happen in the days ahead will prove to be as successful as what we did one year ago."