Ahern urges parties to work with governments
Friday, 31 March 2006 17:34
The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has called on all the parties in Northern Ireland to work with the Irish and British governments in their efforts to restore power sharing in the North.
Mr Ahern was responding to reports that Sinn Féin's Martin McGuiness had dismissed proposals to revive the Stormont Assembly.
The two governments will announce next week that the assembly will be up and running from 15 May for a six-week period to try to form an executive.
But Sinn Féin and the SDLP have expressed concern that the DUP could block efforts to restore the power-sharing executive.
Politicians in Northern Ireland are expected to be given a deadline of 24 November to decide on a deal to restore full devolution.
Mr Ahern and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, held separate talks with Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party at Government buildings yesterday.
- News At One: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern says he hopes the NI Assembly will be re-established in mid-May and also talks about legislation for undocumented Irish in the USA
- Morning Ireland: Mark Durkan, SDLP leader, outlines his reservations over attempts by the Irish and British governments to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland
