U2's lead singer today urged newspapers to use their power to help causes such AIDS and the growing inequality between rich and poor countries.
"I am tough but you are the toughest and that has something to do with the power you have in your headlines," Bono told delegates at the 56th World Newspaper Congress and 10th World Editors Forum at the RDS.
The event is expected to attract over 1,000 editors and newspaper executives from 88 countries.
Bono told editors that celebrities and the media needed each other and thanked the press for helping highlight his causes.
Earlier the Taoiseach praised Bono's efforts in "raising the conscience of the world on global inequality, injustice and the scourge of Aids."
Mr Ahern told the conference that Ireland, along with UN member nations has committed itself to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, which include halving the number of people living in poverty and extreme hunger by 2015.
In addressing issues closer to home, Mr Ahern spoke of the frustration over the current impasse in the Northern Ireland peace process and re-affirmed the Government's commitment to delivering a "peaceful society in Northern Ireland'.
He praised the international media for its continuing coverage of the peace process and for bringing news of Irish developments to Irish communities around the world.
Members of the anti-capitalist movement Globalise Resistance are picketing the conference.
Mr Joe Carolan said his group was protesting against concentration of media ownership, among other issues.
He said many people believed corporate media presented a biased view of the world, especially evident in recent coverage of the war on Iraq. Mr Carolan said the corporate media had also been "guilty of spreading the myth of Weapons of Mass Destruction" in Iraq.
"The conditions of media ownership mean there are fewer diverse voices and radical voices heard. There were few voices outside the mainstream heard during the war. We were called anti-American, even though we had lots of Americans in our movement".
Seminar topics at the event include press freedom and the role of the newspaper in society. The event continues until Wednesday and will be attended by representatives from The Irish Times and ireland.com.
Additional reporting PA