Ahern waiting for Republicans to abandon crime
24/04/2005 - 15:26:40The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said today he is still waiting for Sinn Féin to tell him the Republican movement has abandoned all forms criminal activity.
Speaking at the Annual Fianna Fáil Arbour Hill Commemoration, Mr Ahern said that if the IRA is removed from the equation, it will not benefit unionism to turn its back on partnership politics.
The Taoiseach claimed the failure by the Republican movement to put an end to criminal activity is frustrating the enormous effort that has been put into the process so far.
He said a commitment to end paramilitary and criminal activity for the sake of the British general election is not good enough and that any movement on ending law-breaking must be shown by both word and deed.
