Time has come for politicians to 'take power back'

Northern Ireland:The British government had imposed direct rule on the North exactly 35 years ago and it was time to "take power back; back into the hands of local politicians", Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern told the Fianna Fáil Ardfheis.

Speaking on Saturday before the weekend's developments Mr Ahern said that nobody knew if they would have devolution in place today in the North. He called on the DUP to agree to nominate ministers to a devolved executive.

If that did not happen the Irish and British governments were ready to implement Plan B, which would mean change for the administration of the North with Dublin and London taking a more active role.

He pointed out that exactly 35 years ago, March 24th, 1972, the British government announced the imposition of direct rule on the North and it was time for that power to be back "where it belongs", with local politicians. Noting progress that had been made, he said that within days "the British army will finally pull out of Crossmaglen".

During a debate on foreign affairs, James Tobin from Waterford highlighted the plight of the illegal Irish in the US. "I am the father of one of the undocumented Irish in America," he said.

"They do not want citizenship. They want to be allowed to come home with no problem. I have buried people near and dear to me and my son can't come home." He acknowledged that "there is plenty of work here but he has made his life there and that is where he and 25,000 or 30,000 others want to stay".

Mr Ahern said "there may very well be more" and that the Government was trying to deal with the issue "once and for all", as it had been lobbying for years.

The ardfheis backed a motion by Christeoir McGratha from Tipperary South that in the year of the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls, the remains of Hugh O'Neill should be re-interred in Glasnevin cemetery, subject to the approval of his descendants. His remains are currently in Rome. He said it would mean that Ireland could "symbolically close the chapter of forced emigration".