TAOISEACH (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern will address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, April 30, the Irish government confirmed on Tuesday.Ahern was issued the invitation last year by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and efforts have been underway since to secure a firm date for the occasion. Ahern said he was "deeply honored" to accept the invitation."This invitation is a singular honor for Ireland and one of great historic significance, reflecting the unique friendship between Ireland and the United States over many centuries and which continues to the present day," said Ahern, who will also travel to Capitol Hill for the annual St. Patrick's Day festivities on March 17 at the White House.In a statement, Pelosi praised Ahern's leadership skills. "Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is a tremendously innovative leader on issues ranging from his leadership in the Northern Ireland peace process to the genocide in Darfur to combating climate change," she said."He presides over an economy that is the envy of Europe, indeed the world. We look forward to welcoming him back to the United States Capitol and hearing his vision for continued friendship between our two nations."Ahern will become only the fifth leader to ever address both a joint session of Congress and the British Parliament in Westminster, where he spoke on May 15 of last year.Other Irish leaders who have addressed a joint session of Congress are President Sean T O Ceallaigh (1959), President Eamon de Valera (1964), Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave (1976), Taoiseach Garrett FitzGerald (1984), and Taoiseach John Bruton (1996).Congressman Richie Neal, chairman of the Friends of Ireland Group in Congress, said Ahern deserved to be added to the list."An address to a Joint Session of the United States Congress is one of the highest honors given to a visiting head of government. And no one is more deserving of that special recognition than my good friend Bertie Ahern," he said.