The Fine Gael leader has warned parties to the peace process against stonewalling and posturing. Mr Enda Kenny was heading a party delegation yesterday in a series of talks with Northern parties and the PSNI Chief Constable, Mr Hugh Orde.
"There can be no more last-minute rush for new concessions, no more stonewalling and no more posturing," he said.
He issued a general warning: "Immobilising this process would paralyse the hopes and aspirations of millions. It would shatter their dreams, not just of peace, but of a better, more equal and more prosperous existence."
Turning specifically to Sinn Féin, he said: "When it comes to policing the time for talking is almost over. What is needed now is action. Therefore Sinn Féin should take its place on the Policing Board as a matter of urgency."
Mr Kenny was speaking as it emerged that research into less lethal alternatives to plastic bullets is to be speeded up in the hope that other riot-control methods may be available by the end of the year.
Withdrawal of plastic bullets is a key Sinn Féin and nationalist demand and the raising of the issue of their replacement comes at a sensitive time with both the Taoiseach and Mr Tony Blair due to return to Hillsborough next Thursday to outline their plan to restore devolution.
Mr Kenny praised the "refreshing candour" of Mr Orde and his "deep commitment" to building a police service deserving of the confidence and trust of all. "It is impossible to have a Northern society if the police force does not have that," he said. "So when it comes to policing, and I've said this to Sinn Féin publicly, they have to . . . get past the memories."
Such was the importance next week's Hillsborough talks that sanctions should not become a stumbling block. "If all parties to this agreement are absolutely in favour of it and implement it in full, then sanctions won't be necessary."
Appealing to "middle-ground unionists", Mr Kenny appealed to them to "find the faith to make the process work". He said they too had shown courage.
The agreement may be imperfect and may fall short of everyone's ambitions, but it remained "our best and our only hope".
Both the SDLP and Sinn Féin continued to trade blows over the issues of policing and the administration of justice last night.
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, the Sinn Féin chairman, said: "The issue of plastic bullets is one of the issues which Sinn Féin have been pressing the British government on prior to, during and since the recent negotiations at Hillsborough. They [plastic bullets\] are a lethal weapon and we will continue to demand that they are no longer deployed."
The SDLP chairman, Mr Alex Attwood, said his party had led the drive for an alternative to the weapon. "As a result," he said, "since we joined the \ board, the use of plastic bullets has fallen." The actions of the SDLP in applying pressure to have research into an alternative speeded up had been pivotal and next month he would be "grilling the expert researchers on progress made".
