Taoiseach calls on perpetrators of violence to desist

The Taoiseach has condemned the outbreak of violence in Northern Ireland in recent days.

Mr Ahern called on the perpetrators of violence to honour the vote of the people only a matter of weeks ago and to desist immediately.

The Taoiseach plans to hold a telephone conversation with the British Prime Minister again today. The offices of both leaders were in constant contact yesterday.

The Northern Assembly member, Mrs Monica McWilliams, has stated that the situation is "very, very serious" in Northern Ireland. She was not sure that anybody had the answer to the problem at this stage, she said in Government Buildings before meeting Mr Ahern yesterday. The Taoiseach had been wonderful in the support he had been giving with the British government, the head of the Women's Coalition added.

They had always said the Independent Parades Commission's decisions would not make everyone happy all of the time, but it was the only body that they had and they had to work with it.

"They have ruled that there shall be no march on the Garvaghy Road," she continued. "They have also ruled there will be a march in my constituency".

Saying that she would have some work to do over the weekend, Ms McWilliams added: "First of all I will have to make sure that my children are safe. I am going to get them out."

She would be going to the Garvaghy Road today on the invitation of the women, who were completely distressed. "They are unable to speak both from fatigue and distress," she said. None the less, Mrs McWilliams said she was hopeful the problem would be resolved.