Deadlock in the peace process within a 'whisker' of resolution, the Taoiseach has said.
The IRA should clarify whether it plans to end all paramilitary activity, the Taoiseach said yesterday. Stating that the deadlock in the peace process was within a "whisker" of resolution, Mr Ahern said an indication that the IRA would cease activities was the final step required to resume power-sharing.
There was no change in the timetable for elections to the Northern Assembly on May 29th, Mr Ahern said. While he hoped a resolution could be reached, time was running very short. The Irish and British governments would push strongly for an agreement early this week, but "we are not there yet".
Mr Ahern welcomed the statement on the IRA's intentions by the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, and said it was a "hugely significant advance".
The speech had brought the process to the point where the Irish and British governments wanted to be a fortnight ago, he said. It had answered two of the three questions which remained after the IRA statement issued privately to the two governments.
Mr Ahern said: "Does the IRA intend to put all arms beyond use? I think there's no doubt about that. We have moved substantially from where we were in the May 2000 statement. Does the IRA's position mean an end to the conflict? We're happy with that, the Irish Government are happy with that position."
He said he was aware of "constraints" within Sinn Féin surrounding the third commitment - to end all paramilitary operations. Several such high-profile incidents had led to the current breakdown, he said. While he believed it must be possible to provide such a commitment, he was "not saying that everyone's trying to do it".
Mr Ahern asked: "Does the IRA intend to end all its activities including targeting, intelligence-gathering, punishment beatings, military training, arms procurement? We set that out in November. We're not yet satisfied on that question."
Mr Ahern said he assumed the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, would share the view that the language in the statement - dealing with "the most fundamental of issues about activities that the IRA were involved in" - was clear and unambiguous.
It was natural for Mr Trimble to seek further clarification, Mr Ahern said "but he should take enormous, I think, satisfaction and success out of what we have achieved. Let's be frank about it, nobody ever thought we'd see this kind of language."
Referring to the republican movement, Mr Ahern said: "I know the difficulties around trying to resolve that question. We have to be absolutely clear of that position for this reason.
"Trust and confidence broke down because of that question - whether it was Castlereagh, whether it was Stormontgate, whether it was Colombia - it was that question. We just have to be clear about the answer to that question." Mr Ahern said the question was not a matter of whether the IRA "would" or "should" end its activities.
"We are not just being wordsmiths here. We're dealing with the reality of what caused the problem, so that we can say we have settled it and it will not happen again," he said.
"It is a commitment that paramilitary activity has ceased, will not occur, so that we can get on, so that we do not have another Colombia, Stormontgate. And of course, no need to emphasise that we wouldn't be making a point about this unless it actually happened, not once, not twice, but several times."
Mr Ahern was briefing journalists before speaking yesterday evening to the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair. As political activity intensified, the two leaders planned to speak after meetings in the North between the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, and Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists.
"The clarifications provided are important and they are helpful. On the basis of these clarifications, I hope that we are moving towards a solution," Mr Ahern said.
"There is a need for further clarification regarding an end to all IRA activities inconsistent with the Good Friday agreement.
"This is an issue where we must have clarity if we are to move ahead on the basis of confidence, and making sure that everybody has confidence and trust to ensure the institutions and the process continue to work."