The Taoiseach has stressed North-South co-operation as a means towards economic development of the whole island.
Addressing the Derry Chamber of Commerce, Mr Ahern referred to Monday's announcement on the fate of nearly 930 workers at the nearby Seagate plant in Limavady. He pledged the Government's assistance to initiatives promised by the Stormont Executive.
"We are acutely aware of the impact on the whole region on both sides of the Border, and we are certainly willing to help in whatever way we can," he said. "It is to the future that we must all look."
He noted the "huge achievements" in relation to devolution at Stormont and also cited the completion of the single electricity market for the island of Ireland this week.
The National Development Plan would link in with the work of the North-South Ministerial Council, now revitalised following the re-establishment of devolved rule in the North, he said
Stressing the importance of equality and the need for mutual respect, which he described as "hugely liberating", he added: "By making clear that we can only proceed by agreement, we have transformed the potential for agreement."
The northwest stood to benefit hugely from that scenario, he said, and the problems of the region did not need to be spelled out any more.
Referring to co-operation between the Government and the Stormont Executive, he said: "We have set out a joint vision - the North West Gateway Initiative - that involves working together for our mutual benefit, North and South, to build a better future for the entire region." This initiative would seek to build on the "unique relationship between Derry, the fourth largest city on this island, and its natural hinterland on both sides of the Border."