Dr Caird denounces talks delay

THE Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Donald Caird, last night expressed his admiration and support for the Taoiseach…

THE Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Donald Caird, last night expressed his admiration and support for the Taoiseach in attempting to keep the peace process in existence.

"All party talks must proceed at once," he said, " not to be dominated by the IRA and its supporters, for the nationalist interest would resist such domination as surely as surely as the unionist interest."

Denouncing the recommencement of military activity by the IRA - "if the killing and wounding of unsuspecting civilians can be regarded as military activity" - Dr Caird also deplored "the culpable delay in proceeding to all party talks'. He also pointed out that in all the existing agreements between the sovereign powers the understanding was "quite explicit" that nothing would be agreed until everything was agreed.

In such context, he said, the talks could have proceeded while all involved kept their arms at the existing strength.