Ahern: "peace is crucial"

Irish Politicians Begin Work on New Programme

Mr Ahern's Fianna Fail portrays itself as a traditional Republican party which will take an especially close interest in the position of Nationalists in Northern Ireland, in contrast with the Fine Gael party of the former Prime Minister, John Bruton, which claimed to be equally concerned about Unionists. Unionists are less enthusiastic about Mr Ahern's success than nationalists.

Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, however, claimed the Irish election result should be welcome news for everyone in Ireland: "It's particularly, I think, good news for those of us who want to bring about a just and democratic peace settlement. And as it looks that Bertie Ahern is going to become the Taoiseach, we have a new government in London also, so there's a need for a renewed and energetic and urgent refocus on the issues which need to be resolved." He said.

Once he becomes Prime Minister at the end of the month, Bertie Ahern will, like Tony Blair, refuse to talk to Sinn Fein unless the IRA calls off its campaign of violence. But before he takes up office he intends to hold one more meeting with Gerry Adams to urge Republicans to give up the gun.

The DUP leader Ian Paisley was angry about this concession. "He's trying to get a dirty deal with the godfathers of the people who have murdered my people in Northern Ireland - Sinn Fein and Gerry Adams - and broker a dirty deal over our heads and behind our backs to stick together another bogus ceasefire in order that he can get Sinn Fein into the talks." he said.

Unionists have also registered their unhappiness about the possibility of Mr Ahern appointing the former Prime Minister, Albert Reynolds, as a special envoy dealing with the peace process. Northern Ireland Office ministers have been far more restrained in their action, saying they will work very happily with anyone committed to pursuing a bi-partisan approach to finding peace and a political settlement in Northern Ireland.