Ahern wants to move soon on North

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he would like to see the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and himself present their proposals on restoring the Northern Ireland Assembly next week.

Mr Ahern said the intention was to present the plan within the next fortnight. "My preference is for next week. The Assembly is currently suspended, but must be dissolved by April 28th to allow elections to take place at the end of May.

"If we leave it any later than next week to present the plan, it leaves too narrow a period between that and dissolution."

He added that if a full agreement was arrived at, the pro-agreement parties could go to the electorate with a very clear message based on what they had done and achieved.

"There have been difficulties, but the parties could also present a very good blueprint for the future."

Mr Ahern warned that the policing issue in the North should not be a source of controversy indefinitely. His concern, he added, was that if the policing issue continued to be drawn out much longer, it would create risks.

"In moving towards fundamental reform of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the sooner we have a higher proportion of nationalists and republicans joining the force, the better. That will boost the reform process and help to establish respect, trust and confidence in the force."

Mr Ahern, replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, said that the talks were not completed. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, himself and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the British government were endeavouring to do the best they could, he added.

Despite his other difficulties, the Mr Blair had devoted a considerable amount of time to the issue in recent days and had been in contact with the Government, directly or indirectly, every day for the past week.

"Hopefully, we will be able to resolve the outstanding issues."