Ahern condemns "unpatriotic act"

THE Fianna Fail leader said his party would do everything could "to contribute constructively to the restoration of peace".

Mr Bertie Ahern called for "calm and responsible leadership ... The IRA must be left with no excuse for continuing their campaign of violence. I hope that ... it is not too late to salvage peace".

The Lisburn bomb was "a deeply unpatriotic act". "What I find hardest to understand is the political defeatism, cowardice and the political illusions of the IRA. They have skilled political leaders. Why do they refuse to trust them?" asked Mr Ahern.

"I would like to think that the IRA, however misguided, were motivated by genuine republican ideals. But I see no evidence of any understanding of genuine republicanism among them that could be a foundation of peace and ultimate unity in the 21st century."

History would not thank the British government for the way it had frustrated the peace process after the ceasefire. "It was the British insistence on prior disarmament . . . that quite literally wrecked hopes of political progress. The peace process and the ceasefires were based on the premise that there had been no military victory and no military defeat on any side. How can you insist on a surrender of arms when there has been no military victory?"

On the Irish side, Mr Ahern said the greatest tragedy was the change in government. "Despite their best efforts, and I acknowledge that there has been a great deal of sincere hard work, the present Government have not succeeded in retaining the confidence of the republican movement or even the same level of confidence in the wider nationalist community. Neither have they won the confidence of the unionist or loyalist community. I believe that on many occasions they were not tough enough in public with the British government each time they sought to move the goalposts.

The unionist parties also had to answer for their responsibility in the breakdown of the peace process.

He outlined what he believed were the six essentials for re establishing the process. The IRA must restore the ceasefire and the two governments should establish a timeframe for talks. Decommissioning should be part of the peace process and not something on which prior agreement is required and there should be a "liberal regime" for the release of all politically motivated prisoners.

The British government should act, independently of the talks process, to enhance equality and parity of esteem to build confidence and economic and social progress.

The talks process should be moved to a "neutral" location, possibly Washington, to give an impetus to progress.