Ahern says no general election before mid-2002

The Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern today announced he will attend a Downing Street summit on the stalled Northern Ireland peace process…

The Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern today announced he will attend a Downing Street summit on the stalled Northern Ireland peace process on Wednesday.

Mr Ahern ruled out the possibility of a deal on the outstanding issues, including IRA decommissioning, being struck at the meeting.

But he said he remained "determined if not optimistic" that a resolution can be achieved.

Responding to an indication given by Northern Ireland’s First Minister Mr David Trimble this morning that a deal on IRA weapons may be close, Mr Ahern told RTE radio: "We have not as yet found resolution to all of the things.

READ MORE

"Yes it is true that we have made progress. It is unlikely that we will get a substantive breakthrough unless we get progress across all fronts."

He added: "We will have a summit meeting on Wednesday night in Number 10 where I will attend with my key people and the prime minister.

"We will sit down and look at where we are at and see what else we can do - we do not have a deal for Wednesday night."

He said the Government had been in daily negotiations on the outstanding issues, such as demilitarisation, decommissioning and policing, since January 11 and that efforts would continue.

He added: "It is important we continue to try to find a resolution and I remain determined we will do that, if not optimistic."