MPs and members of the North's legislative assembly could be participating in Dáil debates and at Oireachtas committees by the autumn, according to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, writes Marie O'Halloran.
He told Sinn Féin's leader in the Dáil, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, that procedures had to be put in place, but if this could be done over "the next period, we should be in a position by the next session to have the participation of people in debates on the Good Friday agreement and other relevant issues".
Sinn Féin will have a private member's debate in the Dáil next week on the peace process, and Mr Ó Caoláin said that procedures could be put in place by next Tuesday for all MPs north of the Border to take part in that debate.
There was no apparent disagreement among the parties in the Dáil to the participation of parliamentary representatives in the North. He asked the Taoiseach to seek the agreement of the Dáil party leaders to invite them to participate. "There is no other step required," said Mr Ó Caoláin. "The matter is firmly in the Taoiseach's hands, and he has the opportunity to proceed."
Mr Ahern replied that it was unlikely the procedures could be put in place by then.
He pointed out that the All-Party Committee on the Constitution had reported on the matter well over a year ago, and the parties had outlined their positions. There were some procedural issues to be resolved.