Agreement to form a new powersharing executive at Stormont may depend on a "clearer message" from Sinn Féin about its intentions to back policing, the Taoiseach has said, in advance of the recall of the Northern Assembly at Stormont this morning, write Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor and Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent.
Bertie Ahern said Sinn Féin need not join the Policing Board or voice support for the PSNI before any new executive is formed. But he said it should make clear its intentions to "play their role" in policing. "I do think that a clear message [ is needed] as we go forward - or maybe I should say, correctly, a clearer message going forward - that they will take and play their role in policing, as they have previously undertaken to do," he said.
His remarks follow comments in The Irish Times last week by DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley in which he stated bluntly that no political progress was possible until Sinn Féin backed the PSNI. "The talks have no future until everyone who is going to be in the government of Northern Ireland is a complete and total supporter of the police," he said.
Speaking in Dublin before Fianna Fáil's 80th anniversary celebrations, Mr Ahern said: "Ultimately, the position has to be that policing is devolved, and that government plays its role in it. I don't see the devolvement of policing powers before that. The 'message' [ about SF's future intentions] could well be before that," he added.
"I don't think we are going to see the whole policing issue resolved before we see the executive resolved, but Sinn Féin's attitude to policing will be important."
Speaking earlier on RTÉ, the Taoiseach said failure to agree to form an executive by the two governments' November 24th deadline could mean the opportunity being lost for decades. "If we can't do it in six months, then we're unlikely to do it this side of the next 20 years."
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness responded last night that devolution depended on the DUP opting to exercise power with republicans.
"It is my hope that the DUP will come on board in establishing a power-sharing government. But what is now clear is that the two governments need to make it clear to the DUP the stalling tactics currently being adopted cannot stretch on any longer."
Dr Paisley's deputy, Peter Robinson, said at the weekend that the DUP could begin consultations within unionism about forming a power-sharing executive in the autumn, ahead of the governments' deadline.
He told BBC Radio Ulster people had to be satisfied that paramilitary and criminal activity had ended before their elected representatives entered an executive. That process of gauging public satisfaction could start in October or early November, he said, following the next Independent Monitoring Commission report.
The Assembly parties, including 40 newly elected members following the 2003 election, gather at Stormont this morning for the first time since suspension in October 2002.
Stark divisions over the Assembly's recall persist, with nationalists unhappy that members are being called to a body stripped of real power. The DUP is keen to debate the economy, local government reform and education.
A vote on the election to the joint office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister takes place next Monday and is widely expected to fail. Attempts to find agreement will continue until November 24th.