Governments hopeful of reviving North's institutions: Ahern
The Taoiseach said this afternoon that the Irish and British governments remained hopeful of reviving the political institutions in the North this year.
Speaking after talks with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London, Bertie Ahern said the two leaders would publish a plan before the marching season.
Emerging from the talks, Mr Ahern said the meeting had been “very focused”.
He said: “Today we were looking at a number of possibilities. We have listened to the parties and have a very good sense of where they are all at and where there are agreements and where there are disagreements.
“We want to implement the Good Friday Agreement as fully and as completely as we possibly can and as inclusively as we can.”
Asked if he intended to publish a plan before the summer and the marching season, Mr Ahern said: “Definitely.”
“We want all the parties to help us in this. This is not just for the two governments. But if it's left to the two governments, the two governments will give the leadership and make the decisions if that's the way it has to be - but certainly we would like to find a way to carry everyone with us.”
He said no deadline would be set but that the governments would not “sit around”.
“Officials and ourselves will continue every day to make progress. This meeting was important because next week I will be giving an assessment of where we are to President Bush and also our friends on Capitol Hill.”
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