Ahern: attacks Irish Premier

Irish Opposition Leader Criticises Bruton over Approach To Peace Process

Just a week before polling day, Ahern, the leader of the Fianna Fail party, highlighted the Dublin premier's "inconsistencies and mistakes" over Ulster. He accused Mr Bruton of seeming to have a principle about never disagreeing in public with the former British government under John Major. Northern Ireland's nationalists, said Mr Ahern, had "simply lost confidence in the Irish government as an effective guarantor of the peace process".

Ulster has not featured prominently in any recent elections in Dublin, with politicians reluctant to adopt an aggressive stance on the issue. But opinion polls this time have suggested that Fianna Fail is regarded as the party best-suited to deal with the peace process.

Bruton: Pressure on Sinn Fein

Mr Bruton has so far restricted himself to applying pressure on Sinn Fein to persuade the IRA to announce a new ceasefire.

Both government and opposition parties in Dublin have welcomed Labour's general election victory in Britain as providing the basis for new impetus on peace. Mr Ahern said "a change of government here would complete the transformation of the political landscape, which began with the British general election. Removing the shadow of violence from this island and establishing a lasting peace would give the country a tremendous boost."