Sinn Fein rejects monitoring commission's charge against IRA

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said his party rejected the "so-called Independent Monitoring Commission report and its charge against the IRA".

However, he wanted to proceed on a positive note because it was important he acknowledge and welcome the Taoiseach's statement that the Belfast Agreement was the only way forward.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he would emphasise that point to Dr Ian Paisley when they met.

He said Gerry Adams's appeal to the IRA would ultimately be judged on the basis of the IRA's actions in response.

"I understand that an internal consultation process is underway within the IRA. The outcome must be a clear and decisive end to paramilitarism and the completion of decommissioning.

"If that happens, both governments will expect unionists to fully accept partnership politics and the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement, with a full commitment by all involved to purely democratic and peaceful methods, is the only basis on which we can all move forward."

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the commission's report made for grim reading.

"In regard to the Continuity IRA, the Irish National Liberation Army, the Loyalist Volunteer Force, the Provisional IRA, the Real IRA, the Ulster Defence Association, the UVF and the Red Hand Command, the commission states clearly that all these organisations are active, intent on continuing criminality and continuing on the ways of terrorism, and it points out incidents in respect of each of these."

Mr Ahern said there was no evidence of paramilitary groups ceasing their activities.

"For the most part, the downward trend in criminal activity and crime has continued, with the number of paramilitary murders more or less the same as in previous periods. Loyalist groups remain responsible for most of the violence, but there are also some worrying issues about ex-prisoners being involved in either paramilitary activity or criminal activity."

However, said Mr Ahern, that must be set against the overall position. "There is an attitude of getting on with life in most parts of Northern Ireland, but we have still not reached the position we want to reach."

For years there had been false dawns and dashed hopes and the last few months had crystallised the challenges which must be addressed.

The Taoiseach said he hoped to meet the British prime minister shortly.

Mr Ahern said he did not have an opportunity to meet with Tony Blair at the VE celebrations in Moscow, but he spoke to him shortly after his re-election.

"I hope that he and I can meet in the coming weeks. I greatly value the close personal friendship and working relationship the prime minister and I have established, particularly in our common efforts to advance the Northern Ireland peace process."

He also said he was sure he would meet Sinn Féin on a formal basis, but he had no date for that yet.