TAOISEACH WARNS ON ANY BID TO CHANGE NORTH PEACE DEAL
Taoiseach warns on any bid to change North peace deal
by Liam O'Neill Political Editor
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night warned that there must be no attempt to introduce preconditions that were not in the Good Friday Agreement when it came to setting up the Northern Ireland Executive next month.
The guideline has to be faithful implementation of the agreement on all sides," said Mr. Ahern as he called on the Unionists and Sinn Fein to engage in face to face dialogue and to work together in the new institution.
"On all sides, there has to be a commitment to this and an acceptance of responsibility to engage in inclusive dialogue, face to face, to build mutual confidence with courage and to work together," he said.
In implementing the agreement, it was essential to avoid introducing new, formal preconditions that were not in it, the Taoiseach said during a speech at the Humbert Summer School in Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Although he did not get into specifics, sources close to the Taoiseach said that what he had in mind was the demand by some Unionists that there must be decommissioning of paramilitary weapons by the IRA before the Sinn Fein leaders, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, could join the Executive.
There was no provision in the agreement that decommissioning would have to take place before the Executive was set up, the sources pointed out. All that was in the agreement must be implemented and in the spirit as well as in the letter, the Taoiseach said, as he clearly signalled to Sinn Fein/IRA that they must cooperate with the Independent Commission on Decommissioning, as was provided for in the agreement.
He also sent Republicans a warning about punishment beatings, still continuing apparently. Punishment attacks, beatings and shootings which occasionally ended in punishment killings were incompatible with the spirit that animated the agreement, he emphasised.
The Taoiseach said it was also necessary that the Unionist community face up to the full implications of equality within Northern Ireland between the two traditions.
"We need parallel, mutually reinforcing action on all the commitments in the Agreement, inspired by a bold and generous spirit," Mr Ahern said.
The keys to progress now were, firstly, faithful implementation of the Agreement in all aspects and secondly the building of relations of trust and partnership, he said.
At the beginning of his speech, the Taoiseach again referred to the Omagh bombing and the tough measures announced by the Government in response to the outrage.
These measures could leave no doubt that they were determined to crush violence and to suppress those who perpetrated it," he said.
"We shall not hesitate to use the powers vested in us to defend peace and democracy on this island against any who may persist in defying the will of the people of Ireland," he added in what appeared to be another reference to the option of in ternment if the draconian measures now on the way were to fail.
The Taoiseach will this afternoon attend the Act of Prayerful Reflection in Omagh. After the service he will have political discussions with the North's First Minister, David Trimble, and the deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon.
Following the meeting Mr. Ahern will visit the remaining victims of the bombing and meet staff at Tyrone County Hospital.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
by Liam O'Neill Political Editor
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night warned that there must be no attempt to introduce preconditions that were not in the Good Friday Agreement when it came to setting up the Northern Ireland Executive next month.
The guideline has to be faithful implementation of the agreement on all sides," said Mr. Ahern as he called on the Unionists and Sinn Fein to engage in face to face dialogue and to work together in the new institution.
"On all sides, there has to be a commitment to this and an acceptance of responsibility to engage in inclusive dialogue, face to face, to build mutual confidence with courage and to work together," he said.
In implementing the agreement, it was essential to avoid introducing new, formal preconditions that were not in it, the Taoiseach said during a speech at the Humbert Summer School in Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Although he did not get into specifics, sources close to the Taoiseach said that what he had in mind was the demand by some Unionists that there must be decommissioning of paramilitary weapons by the IRA before the Sinn Fein leaders, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, could join the Executive.
There was no provision in the agreement that decommissioning would have to take place before the Executive was set up, the sources pointed out. All that was in the agreement must be implemented and in the spirit as well as in the letter, the Taoiseach said, as he clearly signalled to Sinn Fein/IRA that they must cooperate with the Independent Commission on Decommissioning, as was provided for in the agreement.
He also sent Republicans a warning about punishment beatings, still continuing apparently. Punishment attacks, beatings and shootings which occasionally ended in punishment killings were incompatible with the spirit that animated the agreement, he emphasised.
The Taoiseach said it was also necessary that the Unionist community face up to the full implications of equality within Northern Ireland between the two traditions.
"We need parallel, mutually reinforcing action on all the commitments in the Agreement, inspired by a bold and generous spirit," Mr Ahern said.
The keys to progress now were, firstly, faithful implementation of the Agreement in all aspects and secondly the building of relations of trust and partnership, he said.
At the beginning of his speech, the Taoiseach again referred to the Omagh bombing and the tough measures announced by the Government in response to the outrage.
These measures could leave no doubt that they were determined to crush violence and to suppress those who perpetrated it," he said.
"We shall not hesitate to use the powers vested in us to defend peace and democracy on this island against any who may persist in defying the will of the people of Ireland," he added in what appeared to be another reference to the option of in ternment if the draconian measures now on the way were to fail.
The Taoiseach will this afternoon attend the Act of Prayerful Reflection in Omagh. After the service he will have political discussions with the North's First Minister, David Trimble, and the deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon.
Following the meeting Mr. Ahern will visit the remaining victims of the bombing and meet staff at Tyrone County Hospital.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
Further Information
Publisher: THE EXAMINER
Ref: TEX/149
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
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