The head of the Anglican Church in Ireland today appealed to politicians to show the courage needed to secure a political breakthrough in Northern Ireland.
Gerry Adams. Photo: Bryan O'Brien/Irish Times
Archbishop Robin Eames made the call after he and the bishops of the Church of Ireland had groundbreaking first talks with Sinn Féin.
The talks at Stormont followed Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley's first meeting with the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Sean Brady a fortnight ago.
After 90 minutes of talks covering a range of issues, Dr Eames emerged to say: "We are anxious to see progress. We are anxious to see movement and above all else we want to see Northern Ireland at peace with itself."
He said the bishops weren't there to issue judgments or advice about what political decisions had to be made.
But Dr Eames said: "We did stress to Sinn Féin the need to seek agreement on the way forward. It is for politicians to have the courage and convictions that we believe they were elected to show."
Dr Robin Eames
Sectarianism and the hurt felt in Protestant communities over events of the past decades were discussed as was policing.
Sinn Féin is engaged in a consultation exercise to see whether its supporters are ready to back the police service and structures of law and order in Ireland.
Dr Eames said his group understood the sensitivities of Sinn Féin over policing.
But he added: "We also put on the table the sensitivities of those who want to see Sinn Féin and all the parties supporting the police and reaching a situation of the stability that would come from that."
An historic first meeting between Mr Adams and the Rev Ian Paisley at a Programme for Government Committee last week was cancelled when the DUP raised concerns to the oath.
The DUP made clear there would be no movement on power sharing with Sinn Féin until they supported policing.
Mr Adams said: "We have been working very very actively and efforts to sort out this latest obstacle are ongoing.
"I am concerned it is over a week we left St Andrews and we have not even had the first Programme for Government meeting."
Asked if he thought it was no more than a glitch - as suggested by Secretary of State Peter Hain - or something more serious, he said: "I will answer that question at the end of the week.
Mr Adams described his meeting with the Protestant churchmen as very important.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams
"This was a public event which sends its own positive signals. It is important we had this meeting, it is a sign of the times - long may that continue."
He said the discussions had been open, transparent, positive and helpful and covered many issues. He said they had spoken of the desire to make political violence a thing of the past.
The bishops revealed that they were going to maintain contact with all the political parties they had been meeting in recent weeks from parish level upwards.
Dr Eames said they were hopeful a date would soon be fixed for a meeting with Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists - the only party his group had yet to have discussions with.
Irish and British parliamentarians are gathering in Belfast today for two days of discussions on the peace process. It will be the first time a British-Irish Parliamentary Body will have met in Belfast.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain will be among those who will discuss recent developments in the peace process with the body made up of Dáil TDs and Westminster MPs.