Mr John Hume is to be formally awarded the Mater Foundation Gold Medal tonight in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the people of Ireland.
Mr Hume, MP and MEP, is a co-founder and current leader of the SDLP. He won the Nobel Peace Prize 1998.
He has been a central figure in the history of Northern Ireland since the 1960s, and has played a pivotal role in laying down the foundations for the current peace process.
His dialogue with Mr Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein proved to be a key factor to a cessation of violence declared by the IRA in 1994.
Hundreds of guests will attend the gala dinner tonight for the presentation, including the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney and the US Ambassador, Mr Mike Sullivan.
The Mater Foundation, a voluntary charitable organisation, was established in 1985 to raise funding for projects at Dublin's Mater Hospital not provided for by the Government.
