Bertie Ahern, believes formula will be found
The Taoiseach has said that he believes a formula will be found, which will allow the appointment of a new Northern Ireland Executive. However, he added that it would not be easy. Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr. Ahern said that failure to resolve the impasse would allow those opposed to the Agreement, including those responsible for the Omagh bomb and the murderers of Rosemary Nelson, to claim victory.
Also speaking on RTÉ Radio, the leader of Sinn Féin has repeated that it is not within the gift of his party's leadership to deliver IRA decommissioning on the terms demanded by the Ulster Unionist Party. Gerry Adams said that he did not accept that David Trimble's political position was precarious and said that the First Minister had the support of three-quarters of the Assembly.
The DUP claimed last night that David Trimble's failure to insist on the hand-over of terrorist weapons as part of the Good Friday Agreement is his Achilles heel, as it will never be delivered. The DUP deputy leader, Peter Robinson, said that the peace process is stacked against Unionists, who are left prey by, what he called, a gutless, spineless Government to an insatiable Provo appetite.
Mr Robinson also said that concessions were all one way towards Republicans, but that there was no sign they intended to deliver their part of the bargain, which is the hand-over of guns and explosives.
