The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has said that as of now "there is no light in the tunnel" in the impasse over decommissioning. In an interview with RTÉ News, he said there is "no easy way we can pull this together but we have to continue." He added we are in a highly difficult period, but the recriminations over the suspension of the institutions in the North must stop. "I can understand why people let cut at each other, but it won't help the situation." Mr Ahern added the present vacuum is highly dangerous and cannot be allowed to continue.
The Taoiseach said that after all the long hours that had been put in to bring about the power-sharing executive it was disappointing to see it disappear at the stroke of a pen. He said that we are now "down at the bottom of the hill trying to push the stone back up." "I fear if we don't resolve it before the summer, we could be in to a difficult period. I think we have some period but not a long period,” he said.
When asked about whether or not he would share government with Sinn Fein in a coalition arrangement, he said it could not happen while Sinn Fein has links to a paramilitary organisation. He said that was the view of all of the parties in the Dáil. "In a democracy nothing else would be sustainable or acceptable to the people," he said.
Asked about the growing public acceptance of the role which his partner Celia Larkin is playing in public life with him, Mr Ahern said that "people are tolerant, people are very fair, people are understanding and I appreciate that. It could be otherwise, but thankfully its not, and I appreciate that". Mr Ahern added "it is an issue with some people, but people are tolerant and fair and understanding and that's something we both appreciate".
Mr Ahern ruled out any prospect of going for an early general election. He said that he will do all he can to go the full five years until 2002. Asked about his high ratings in the opinion polls and whether or not it might tempt him to cut and run he said it's the "last thing I'm likely to do".
He also said that while he would be aiming for an overall majority based on the present electoral system it is almost impossible to get an overall majority. He added that they would "never take the electorate for granted it would be hard for anyone to a majority, but we'll do our very best."
The Taoiseach earlier said that he will consider reconvening the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation if there is not progress in the North in the coming weeks. Mr Ahern was speaking in the Dáil where opposition leaders had expressed concern that two weeks after the suspension of the North's institutions, the two goverments were not in a position to announce a round table meeting of all the Northern parties. The Taoiseach said that a number of bilateral meetings would take place in the coming days but he said that the governments would want an indication of support for any initiative involving round table discussions.
