IRA will disband: Spring

The former Labour Party leader also observed that the IRA’s continued existence was still hampering Sinn Fein in the Republic.

‘‘I think if you want to get into the democratic process and participate, which we want people to, then that means leaving a lot of the baggage behind and no ambivalence about it,’’ he said in Tralee.

‘‘The day of the Armalite in the one hand and the ballot box in the other is long gone. I think it is unacceptable and the vast majority of people find it unacceptable as well.

‘‘I think it (IRA disbandment) is going to happen.

‘‘I think, perhaps because of the people they have to bring with them, they can only do things in steps and stages but I would assume the Adamses and McGuinnesses in the (Sinn Fein) leadership realise that if they want to be accepted fully into the process, then the IRA has to be disbanded.’’

Mr Spring, who played a key role in the early development of the Northern Ireland peace process following the 1994 IRA and loyalist ceasefires, welcomed Sinn Fein’s participation in the Province’s political structures.

The General Election was a ‘‘big test for Sinn Fein’’, he said.

‘‘Certainly up to a month ago, they were billing this election as the big breakthrough for them in the south (of Ireland),’’ he said.

‘‘I think the jury is still out on that, but I suppose on the one hand, we want to get them into the democratic process but there are two main impediments to that remaining.

‘‘One is that the IRA still exists - and in my view there is no justification whatsoever for an army like the IRA and secondly, the decommissioning of arms.’’

With recent opinion polls tipping Mr Ferris strongly to take a seat next week at the expense of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s Fianna Fail party, Mr Spring, TD for Kerry North, hoped that his own vote would remain strong.

He was also optimistic that the Labour Party, led by Ruairi Quinn would gain seats.

As an opinion poll today strengthened the view that Fianna Fail could form the first single-party government since 1977, he declared: ‘‘I think we will do well. We will gain a few seats.

‘‘Fine Gael appear to be a party in trouble. I thought they might get some bounce back during the campaign but it doesn’t appear to be happening to date.

‘‘At the moment it looks like Fianna Fail are close to an overall majority which I think would be the worst thing that could happen to this country and would bring back the worst of the (Charles) Haughey spectre delivered by Haughey’s graduate.

‘‘I really think at this stage we would be letting ourselves in for raw politics.’’

Mr Spring said the election was difficult for the Opposition to fight because Mr Ahern’s refusal to join a televised debate with other leaders had made it difficult for the Opposition parties to expose Fianna Fail.

‘‘The fact that he wouldn’t go on television at the early stages of the campaign to debate the issues, I think, is why this has ended up being a local campaign.

‘‘In many places it has been strictly local. There isn’t a national focus.

‘‘On the other hand we still have eight days and it is still all to play for.’’