In her Christmas Day message the President Mary McAleese has called on motorists to drive safely over the festive period.
"Among the gifts we can share with one another this Christmas is the gift of care on our roads," she said. "I ask all of us, young and old, to take seriously our personal responsibility for road safety and keep the crying out of Christmas."
Ms McAleese also praised the work of Irish organisations that are part of the international aid effort. "Conflict, poverty and disease are ravaging millions of lives this very day. The Irish play a noble role in the international community's response to that suffering."
"Ireland has a good story to tell of its own successful efforts to end generations of poverty and of conflict."
President McAleese also expressed the hope that peacemakers will prevail in Northern Ireland.