TAOISEACH FACES HIS GREATEST CHALLENGE
Taoiseach faces his greatest challenge
By CHRIS GLENNON
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is grappling with what he calls "my fear all summer'' a spectacular atrocity by a small group seeking destruction of the Good Friday peace deal.
So far, he has made the right moves and taken the steps that would be deemed automatic high profile talks with all the key political leaders and security chiefs.
Within the next 48 hours he has to move to the next phase and bring the Cabinet, Opposition and general public behind an essential response to the bombing.
In the long term, he will be judged by what he actually sanctions to make sure that the Omagh bomb is the last in the North's long haul towards real democracy and a shared form of government. The mandatory response is an intense crackdown on the suspects the dissidents in the republican family. Internment is not really an option despite some macho talk in the last few days. Instead, there has to be use of the law or an updating of it to ensure, as Mr Ahern himself says, that the State can "take out of circulation'' the people responsible for the most horrible deaths and injuries in 30 years. As he maintains an almost uninterrupted round of consultations with Ministers, advisers and political leaders from the UK and the North, the Taoiseach faces his biggest test since taking power not much more than a year ago.
Whatever prison sentences are imposed by the courts will have to be served since the prisoner release programme of the Good Friday deal will not apply to anyone convicted of the Omagh bombing. Mr Ahern was asked yesterday why Gardai had not already arrested people identified with the so-called Real IRA, whom he linked to the Omagh bombing. He patiently explained a reality of democracy people can be arrested only if there is evidence that can be presented in court.
Because internment is not really an option, what he is orchestrating in all the talks and consultations in Dublin, Belfast and London is development of a legal code that will lead to arrests and convictions. Arguably, there is enough law. The Offences Against the State Act, 1939, is one of the most repressive pieces of legislation in any country in the EU. It has been modified and strengthened in intervening years.
However, because there is doubt about whether or not it is specific in some areas, it seems certain to be amended again. This will mean recall of the Dail, the only body with power to change the law. Mr Ahern wants to ensure that the courts can impose prison sentences on members of the Real IRA or other active paramilitary group that has been or will be proscribed. He also wants removal of any legal doubt about whether the paramilitary godfathers can be jailed for "directing'' terrorism.
By CHRIS GLENNON
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is grappling with what he calls "my fear all summer'' a spectacular atrocity by a small group seeking destruction of the Good Friday peace deal.
So far, he has made the right moves and taken the steps that would be deemed automatic high profile talks with all the key political leaders and security chiefs.
Within the next 48 hours he has to move to the next phase and bring the Cabinet, Opposition and general public behind an essential response to the bombing.
In the long term, he will be judged by what he actually sanctions to make sure that the Omagh bomb is the last in the North's long haul towards real democracy and a shared form of government. The mandatory response is an intense crackdown on the suspects the dissidents in the republican family. Internment is not really an option despite some macho talk in the last few days. Instead, there has to be use of the law or an updating of it to ensure, as Mr Ahern himself says, that the State can "take out of circulation'' the people responsible for the most horrible deaths and injuries in 30 years. As he maintains an almost uninterrupted round of consultations with Ministers, advisers and political leaders from the UK and the North, the Taoiseach faces his biggest test since taking power not much more than a year ago.
Whatever prison sentences are imposed by the courts will have to be served since the prisoner release programme of the Good Friday deal will not apply to anyone convicted of the Omagh bombing. Mr Ahern was asked yesterday why Gardai had not already arrested people identified with the so-called Real IRA, whom he linked to the Omagh bombing. He patiently explained a reality of democracy people can be arrested only if there is evidence that can be presented in court.
Because internment is not really an option, what he is orchestrating in all the talks and consultations in Dublin, Belfast and London is development of a legal code that will lead to arrests and convictions. Arguably, there is enough law. The Offences Against the State Act, 1939, is one of the most repressive pieces of legislation in any country in the EU. It has been modified and strengthened in intervening years.
However, because there is doubt about whether or not it is specific in some areas, it seems certain to be amended again. This will mean recall of the Dail, the only body with power to change the law. Mr Ahern wants to ensure that the courts can impose prison sentences on members of the Real IRA or other active paramilitary group that has been or will be proscribed. He also wants removal of any legal doubt about whether the paramilitary godfathers can be jailed for "directing'' terrorism.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/048
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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