The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern, said this morning he was "absolutely delighted" at the release of Co Armagh woman Annetta Flanigan and her two UN colleagues.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern
Ms Flanigan, from the village of Richhill, holds dual Irish and British citizenship. "I know that my sense of relief is shared by all Irish people," Mr Ahern said in a statement.
"I wish to pay tribute to the Secretary General of the United Nations and his staff, and to the Afghan Government for their patient and tireless efforts which led to the successful release of Annetta and her co-workers.
Mr Ahern added: "Our thoughts remain with the families of other kidnap victims, and particularly Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan, who tragically did not survive their abductions."
The Labour party's spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Michael D Higgins, said he was "delighted that the talks came to a fruitful outcome.
"This is a relief to Ms Flanigan's family and to her colleagues in the United Nations and to the international community of aid workers," he added.
British Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, said he was "delighted" and "relieved" at the news as the three UN workers had "no quarrel with any Afghan".
"The determination of those committed to rebuilding Afghanistan remains as strong as ever," he added.