Ahern confirms Government is open to new approaches to East/West issue

The Taoiseach has confirmed that the Government is "open to innovative approaches" to the institutional expression of the East/West relationship in the negotiations on the future of Northern Ireland.

He has stressed, however, that the North/South body with executive powers could not be subordinate to the new East/West structure.

He was attempting to ease the talks path for the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, while also openly emphasising there would have to be unionist agreement to the North/South body and its functions in the Stormont negotiations.

The latest indication of the Government's thinking on the possible parameters of a settlement emerged from the address given by Mr Ahern to the reconvened Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in Dublin Castle yesterday.

Mr Ahern said the Government was conscious of the emphasis that was paid on the East/West dimension by unionists "and we are, ourselves, very mindful of the unique relationships that exist within these islands - islands of the north Atlantic or `IONA' as some have termed them".

Reflecting that, they were open to innovative approaches to the institutional expression of the East/West relationships that were the focus, in part, of Strand Three in the talks, he added.

He warned, however, that they had to take account of the totality of relationships and, for nationalists, North/South institutions had an importance in their own right, independent of any wider "these islands" framework.

That was not to say, he continued, that there may not be scope for a constructive interaction and cross-fertilisation between the North/South and East/West dimensions, "so long as there is a clear recognition of the economic and political realities that determine the respective intensity of relations on the two axes".

In advance of his first visit to the Stormont talks next week, where he hopes to meet Mr Trimble, Mr Ahern again disowned the controversial remarks made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, where he described the North/South body with executive powers as "not unlike a government". The body was not perceived by the South as a vehicle for taking over the government of Northern Ireland against the wishes of a majority there, he stated.

Mr Ahern's repeated public signal that "we are prepared, maybe in a more flexible way" to look at the East/West relationship, comes while Government officials are engaged in intensive study of institutional options which could be used to express the Belfast/Dublin and Dublin/London dimensions to a political settlement.

The Government has begun examining models in the world where there is a loose institutional council to express different relationships. It is understood the Nordic Council, the relationship between Australia and New Zealand and the connection between the Netherlands and Flanders are among the models which have already been raised in discussions.

The new flexibility to broaden the scope of the East/West structure seems to have emerged from the successful meeting between Mr Trimble and Mr Ahern 10 days ago. The Government feels that changed constitutional circumstances in Scotland and Wales, following their two referendums favouring national assemblies, makes it easier for it to concede a stronger link to the neighbouring islands.

While there is undue emphasis, at this point, on the East/West dimension to help Mr Trimble, a very important line in Mr Ahern's address yesterday is worth noting in its full context.

Pointing out that the agreement would have to be based on the three strands, Mr Ahern said the Government is focused on the practicalities involved in North/South co-operation. These would largely shape the functions to be exercised by a North/South body and functional agencies that would report to it.

"I discussed this matter at some length with Mr Trimble 10 days ago," the Taoiseach stated.

See also page 9