Bertie Ahern met Tony Blair at Downing Street
The Taoiseach has said there has been no breakthrough in the Northern peace process but some progress had been made. Bertie Ahern was speaking after talks with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at Downing Street this morning. Mr Ahern said co-operation between the two governments was excellent and they would resume work again after the Easter break. Mr Blair's official spokesman, Alastair Campbell said the Prime Minister also felt there was reason to be optimistic about the prospects for the peace process.
Mr Ahern and Mr Blair last met only two days ago in Dublin and the Taoiseach took advantage of a trip to London for a long-standing speaking engagement today to continue those discussions. Government officials from Ireland and Britain have been engaged for some time now in negotiations aimed at the restoration of the powersharing institutions in the North but neither side expects that there will be any breakthrough this side of the Easter weekend.
It is believed yesterday's Easter message from the IRA, which accused the British of a lack of political will for suspending the institutions, is not a source of much comfort for either Mr Ahern or Mr Blair as they attempt to find a way around the problem of decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.
