The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has said that Sinn that Féin and the IRA are inextricably linked together. Speaking on BBC television's Question Time programme to be broadcast later tonight, Mr Blair said that the republican movement was one movement and that there was no doubt that they worked and operated closely together. Mr Blair also said that Sinn Féin should not be allowed to stay in the executive if it is holding a private army in reserve. He added: "What I'm saying is if you're sharing power, you give up your weapons. I think that's a fair deal."
Meanwhile, a Downing Street spokesman has denied that there is a rift between the British and Irish governments over how to move the peace process forward. Speculation of a rift followed comments by the Taoiseach in a radio interview that he accepted that the IRA and Sinn Féin were separate organisations.
The Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has told the Republican newspaper, An Phoblacht, that his party made it clear to the two governments that it is not the IRA. He added that he also made it clear that Sinn Féin could not and would not enter in any commitment on behalf of the IRA. Gerry Adams also said that he was totally committed to doing everything in his power to maintain the peace process.
Replying to a question about whether his party gave commitments on decommissioning beyond their previously stated position, Mr. Adams replied that their public position is their private position. He said that he is totally committed to doing everything in his power to removing the guns forever from politics. However, he said that he does not accept any block whatsoever on the right of all sections of people to enjoy full rights and entitlements or of anyone to withhold those rights and entitlements.
A survey in tomorrow's edition of the Belfast News Letter shows that a slim majority of Protestants - 53% - oppose plans the Irish and British governments' plans to set up a power-sharing executive at Stormont before decommissioning. The poll found less than 30% would accept the proposals and 19% were undecided; 69% did not think Sinn Féin could secure IRA decommissioning.
The Taoiseach has said that he believes there is now a way forward in Northern Ireland, which will see all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement established and the complete removal of weapons. Mr. Ahern was speaking to trade union delegates at the ICTU conference in Killarney. He said that the timing of a statement on the issue last week by the Group of Seven industrial nations had been important, particularly in stressing that the current uncertainty was damaging to Northern Ireland's economy.
