'Game On' for progress in North, says Adams
It is now “game on” for a power-sharing deal in the North, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said today.
Mr Adams vowed that his party was determined to do everything it can to get political institutions up and running before the November 24 deadline.
The West Belfast MP met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and senior Irish ministers for 80-minute talks today ahead of three days of intensive multi-party discussions in Scotland, beginning on Wednesday.
Mr Ahern said after the meeting: “Sinn Féin is resolute about making an effort to get the institutions up and running before November 24. The issue is, of course, that they have to be within the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.”
He added: “We’re going forward resolute in our endeavours to get these institutions up and running by November 24.
“There needs to be a relentless focus on making this opportunity become a reality.”
Mr Adams said he believes that it is now “game on” for a historic devolution deal.
He also noted that Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) were in complete agreement regarding the need for a peace fund from the Irish and British governments to inject cash into the economy, as well as health and social services in local communities.
“There are big expectations,” he said. “I can see it in my own constituency.
“In fairness to the DUP, they do have challenges. They do have problems that they have to address. But let’s go forward with goodwill and let’s go forward to make this happen.”
Sinn Féin also expressed concerns that the Government’s focus on the North may have been distracted by problems within the Coalition between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats.
Mr Ahern met Tánaiste and PD leader Michael McDowell today to help smooth over difficulties that surfaced in recent days regarding the Taoiseach’s cash payments controversy.
Mr Adams said: “There may be concerns out there that the Government may be unfocused and let’s hope that that isn’t the case, because there is no more important work than what is coming up.”
Mr Adams said he welcomed today’s meeting at Stormont between DUP leader Ian Paisley and the Catholic Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady.
“I think it is important that the leader of the largest Unionist party should meet all sectors of opinion and that includes the Catholic hierarchy,” said Mr Adams.
