Ahern: Seize chance of power-sharing
The opportunity for power-sharing in the North must be seized this year because it may not arise again for some time, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern warned today.
Next month’s gathering of the Northern Assembly members – for the first time since it was suspended in November 2002 – also coincides with the eighth anniversary of the ratification of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement by voters north and south of the Border.
Mr Ahern said the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin are now the largest parties representing their respective communities and had a heavy responsibility to deliver on their mandates.
He added: “I hope that we will, at an early stage, see the opening of productive dialogue between them and with the other parties. Because it is high time to talk and to agree.
“The opportunity may not arise again for some time if it is not seized this year. I hope that all the parties in the Assembly will meet the challenge that has been set in a responsible way.”
The Taoiseach was speaking at today’s annual Fianna Fáil Arbour Hill Commemoration in Dublin.
In a significant move, a high-powered DUP delegation is due to address the British-Irish Inter Parliamentary Body in Killarney tomorrow.
The tenth Independent Monitoring Commission report is also expected to be published next week.
Mr Ahern said that the British and Irish governments had tried to address issues of confidence and trust that led to the suspension of the Assembly over an alleged IRA spying ring at Stormont.
“I believe we are now in an entirely different political space than that which prevailed in 2002,” he said.
“Step by step, the process has moved forward leading to last year’s momentous announcements by the IRA. This progress has given the basis for our efforts to see the return of the devolved Executive by November 24 this year. This is an initiative whose time had clearly come.
“The Assembly has been given reasonable time to reach agreement.”
The Taoiseach reiterated that he and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will move forward together as two Governments to implement the Good Friday Agreement if power-sharing is not revived this year.
“This is not our preferred choice. But if it is the only option we will fully discharge our responsibility to the electorates on this island,” he added.
Mr Ahern spelled out his personal vow: “I pledge that I will continue to devote every ounce of my energy to see this process through and to work with all those who genuinely share this commitment.”
Mr Ahern also warned that Ireland’s history belonged to every Irish person and must be beyond narrow party-political posturings.
He added: “I have always maintained that the 1916 commemorations are not the preserve of any one political movement. They deserve widespread support and this means widespread consultation.”
Mr Ahern said it was now important to formulate an appropriate commemorative programme to take the state up to the centenary of the Rising in 2016.
