Ahern: Adams speech "positive and constructive"
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that today's speech by Gerry Adams could potentially allow the peace process to ‘‘move on at pace’’, but he adopted a ‘‘wait and see’’ approach.
He said the statement by Mr Adams was ‘‘a positive and constructive’’ step and praised the ‘‘huge amount of effort’’ that had gone into the latest move.
‘‘We are up against a very tight timescale. There’s not just one issue but there are many issues that we have to make progress. But there is a great opportunity to do that,’’ he said.
‘‘I continually held the view that if we can get over this difficulty, this obstacle ... we would be able to move on at pace and make a really significant and substantial move, building on the work of the Assembly, the Executive and the North-South institutions.’’
But he added: ‘‘We have to wait to see what the response is and what happens but I do think people want to see the institutions maintained.
‘‘We have made tremendous progress in the last three and a half years. People sometimes do not realise that - they only hear about the difficulties and the problems.’’
He said recent international developments had put the process in context for many people.
He called on those with influence to continue working towards peace in the North.
‘‘Looking at peace processes around the world and the dilemmas they face, looking at the aftermath of September 11, looking at the good work we did in early August and late July, we can build a better future and we can constructively move on.
‘‘I passionately believe that. I have used all my powers of influence to try and convince people of that and I think a lot of other people have to.’’
