Devolution not a stepping stone to independence - Ahern
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said he does not think Scottish devolution will lead to independence.
Mr Ahern also stressed the need for all parties in Northern Ireland to work together to ensure that the peace process did not break down over the next few weeks.
He also said that he was not troubled by the postponement four months ago of his planned visit to unveil a monument to the victims of the potato famine at the Carfin Grotto, near Motherwell, Lanarkshire, amid fears of sectarian violence.
Asked if he felt that devolution would prove a stepping stone to independence, Mr Ahern said: ‘‘Wherever it finally ends it will happen and I don’t think that is going to happen in my political lifetime so that’s not at issue with us.’’
On the prospect of Unionist leader David Trimble resigning and the Assembly being suspended, Mr Ahern said: ‘‘Well obviously that would be bad news for everybody.
‘‘It would be bad news for the Irish government and bad news for the United Kingdom government.
‘‘We have put an enormous amount of effort into it and we do not want to see the institutions collapse.
‘‘We want to see them develop and expand.’’
Mr Ahern added that the issues of policing, decommissioning of arms, the demilitarisation of the security infrastructure and the stability of the institutions were aspects of the Good Friday Agreement which had yet to be resolved.
‘‘They are four issues which are quite difficult but an enormous amount of work has gone in to progressing them to the stage we are at and I understand the difficulties that this creates for Mr Trimble and all of the others.
‘‘But the only way of resolving them is for the two governments with the pro-agreement parties - and all of the other parties for that matter - to sit down and try to find a resolution that we can all live with, rather than plunging Northern Ireland into further difficulties.’’
Mr Ahern also brushed aside the postponement of his visit earlier this year after Labour MP Frank Roy voiced fears of trouble following as the ceremony was due to take place after an Old Firm match.
He said: ‘‘There was clearly a small amount of controversy and I did not want to get involved in any controversy so it was just as suitable for me to do it on another occasion.
‘‘Any minor issues of the past were history and never troubled me and I don’t think they troubled anyone in Ireland either.
He added that it was also a ‘‘huge honour’’ to become the third world leader leader to address the fledgling parliament.
Meanwhile, First Minister Henry McLeish, who was interviewed alongside Mr Ahern, said Ireland might be recruited to front a joint bid to host the European Football Championships.
Mr McLeish also said that he had spoken to the Taoiseach about County Kildare’s successful bid to host the 2005 Ryder Cup in the hope that Scotland’s bid to secure the 2009 contest was endorsed by the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) in September.
Asked about the European Football Championships, he said: ‘‘On the football front I think the Taoiseach and I have agreed that at the present time we are looking at a bid, which is very much the SFA’s (Scottish Football Association) decision, but we have not ruled out the possibility of a joint bid and I think all options are open.
‘‘What we have got to look at are a whole number of factors, but I think the Taoiseach and I agreed that if we go forward the Taoiseach is quite willing to support.
‘‘The Taoiseach also said that if there is the possibility of a joint bid Ireland would be interested.
‘‘So I am delighted at this stage to acknowledge that and it may well be the case that the door is still open for a lot of discussions to take place.’’
