TRIMBLE AND TAOISEACH TO MEET AGAIN
Trimble and taoiseach to meet again
DAVID Trimble is to have talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin tonight as the Republic prepares to introduce new legislation in a bid to crack down on dissident republicans blamed for the Omagh bomb blast.
The Ulster Unionist leader and first minister of the new Northern Ireland assembly wants to hear at first hand the action the Irish authorities propose to take, according to a party spokesman in Belfast.
"We are not absolving the British government, but this is essentially a matter for Dublin to take the necessary steps to crush this organisation," he added.
And Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Ahern had telephone discussions last night and are expected to talk again this morning prior to the Dublin government's cabinet meeting, a Downing Street spokesman said.
Following that meeting, at which new security measures are set to be discussed, the British government will "make a response to the Irish recommendations", the spokesman said.
"We will bring forward our own measures in due course," he added.
Last night's 15 minute conversation between Mr Blair, in France, and Mr Ahern brought each other up to date on their discussions with police, officials and political leaders.
"The taoiseach briefed the prime minister on the measures that would be under discussion at the Irish cabinet meeting tomorrow," the spokesman said.
"The prime minister was struck once more by the taoiseach's absolute determination to deal with the menace of renegade terrorist organisations operating in the south."
RUC officers in Belfast are questioning five men, all from the Omagh area, about the bombing.
Mr Blair has pledged to take whatever security action is necessary and Secretary of State Mo Mowlam is considering a number of options with RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan.
Internment is one option, and while some security chiefs think that could be the fastest and most effective measure, the government is unlikely to re-introduce it at this stage.
DAVID Trimble is to have talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin tonight as the Republic prepares to introduce new legislation in a bid to crack down on dissident republicans blamed for the Omagh bomb blast.
The Ulster Unionist leader and first minister of the new Northern Ireland assembly wants to hear at first hand the action the Irish authorities propose to take, according to a party spokesman in Belfast.
"We are not absolving the British government, but this is essentially a matter for Dublin to take the necessary steps to crush this organisation," he added.
And Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Ahern had telephone discussions last night and are expected to talk again this morning prior to the Dublin government's cabinet meeting, a Downing Street spokesman said.
Following that meeting, at which new security measures are set to be discussed, the British government will "make a response to the Irish recommendations", the spokesman said.
"We will bring forward our own measures in due course," he added.
Last night's 15 minute conversation between Mr Blair, in France, and Mr Ahern brought each other up to date on their discussions with police, officials and political leaders.
"The taoiseach briefed the prime minister on the measures that would be under discussion at the Irish cabinet meeting tomorrow," the spokesman said.
"The prime minister was struck once more by the taoiseach's absolute determination to deal with the menace of renegade terrorist organisations operating in the south."
RUC officers in Belfast are questioning five men, all from the Omagh area, about the bombing.
Mr Blair has pledged to take whatever security action is necessary and Secretary of State Mo Mowlam is considering a number of options with RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan.
Internment is one option, and while some security chiefs think that could be the fastest and most effective measure, the government is unlikely to re-introduce it at this stage.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0073
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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