The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen has warned the parties in the Northern peace process that now is not the time to seek to extract one concession too far.
Addressing the British Irish inter-parliamentary body in Kilkenny, Mr Cowen said that those involved in the talks process should reflect even more deeply on their responsibilities in the light of the current global crisis.
He said 'now is not the time to play the process long, to seek to extract one concession too far, to presume that the doors of people who have been endlessly patient and supportive will remain as generously open as they have in the past.'
Earlier today the Minister met with the Northern Secretary. They described the weekend arms find in Belfast, which is being linked to the Provisional IRA, as serious.
However, Brian Cowen and Paul Murphy stressed they have to wait to see comprehensive police reports before making a judgement on the matter.
Arms find in South Belfast over weekend
An assault rifle, five hand guns, five timer power units and thousands of rounds of assorted ammunition were recovered by police during a planned search of a warehouse in South Belfast on Saturday evening.
Three men have been arrested in connection with the arms find.
A PSNI spokesman described the find as significant and said potentially lives and property had been saved as a result of the seizure.
Arriving at Iveagh House for a meeting with Mr Cowen today, Paul Murphy said that while he had to have a look at the detail, it clearly was 'something we have to be concerned about'.
But he stressed that while there has been IRA activity, the ceasefire remains intact, and the two Governments were working towards ‘acts of completion’ from all sides.
Mr Cowen said matters like this which arise were ‘obviously serious in themselves’, but that they were working to get to the point where the political process is paramount.
Adams plays down significance
The Sinn Féin leader has advised Unionists not to get into a 'tizzy' over reports that the arms find was linked to the Provisional IRA.
Arriving at Government Buildings for a meeting with the Taoiseach, Gerry Adams said he did not know whether the arms belonged to the IRA.
But he said the organisation's weapons had been silent for some time. He said, 'We can't pretend it's not important, but let's not give too much significance to it.'
