Nothing secret about meetings with Adams - Taoiseach
Recent behind-the-scenes meetings with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams were not “secret” but part of ongoing dialogue with Republicans, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.
Mr Ahern defended in the Dáil three recent engagements with Mr Adams on the Northern Ireland peace process.
The last official meeting between the two men took place in Dublin in January in the aftermath of the Northern Bank robbery, which was blamed on the IRA.
On that occasion Mr Ahern told Mr Adams that there would be no further official contact until the IRA committed itself to ending paramilitarism and criminality.
Mr Ahern told Dáil opposition leaders today: “I’ve had no secret meetings with Gerry Adams. Despite all the difficulties, I made it absolutely clear in this House that we would be maintaining dialogue with Sinn Féin and we continued to do that.
“My meetings were consistent with that.”
The Irish and British governments are currently awaiting a definitive IRA statement in response to Mr Adams’ April 6 call on the terror group to abandon arms and achieve its aims through democratic politics.
Mr Ahern added: “These meetings were better conducted outside the glare of publicity.
“You don’t have to hold a press conference every time you have a meeting, particularly if all you’re saying is we’re awaiting the (IRA) consultative process.”
Speculation has mounted that the IRA could deliver its response by the end of the month – before an official July 10 – ’Drumcree Sunday’- deadline set by the British and Irish governments.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked what the purpose of the discussions with Mr Adams was.
“Does the Taoiseach not run the risk again of putting out the perception that the Government is tough in public on these matters but is quite prepared to negotiate in private?” he asked.
Mr Ahern said he often met Northern Ireland political party leaders if they were in Dublin on other business.
He also spoke to senior SDLP leaders on the same basis and had ongoing contact with the Democratic Unionist Party, he said.
Mr Ahern is due to hold talks with a DUP delegation led by its leader the Rev Ian Paisley in the Irish Embassy in London tomorrow.
He will later have separate discussions with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the House of Commons.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain on Monday met Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell in Dublin to discuss policing and cross-border co-operation issues.
Both reiterated that it was vital that a definitive IRA statement was produced to push the peace process forward rather than a rushed declaration which failed to address the key issues.
Mr Hain added: “What matters is that it is a credible statement that banishes forever paramilitary activity and criminality from Northern Irish politics and its infection across the border.
“That is the crucial thing. I would rather have a credible statement that is really deliverable on the ground than a premature one.”
