Taoiseach rules out prospect of fresh strategy for political way forward in North stalemate

THERE is no fresh strategy on a political way forward for the North, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday.

Speaking in St Petersburg where he attended an EU-Russia summit with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, he said they would have to manage the next few months as best they can.

The North was now coming into the marching season which was a very dangerous and difficult time and would be even more so this year because there was no political context, he said.

Irish and British government officials will meet over the coming few weeks.

“We need to put together a plan from late summer and get back in to the political process,” said Mr Ahern.

However, he said there was no fresh thinking which makes pulling together a new plan more difficult. There would certainly be nothing before the marching season starts on July 12.

As a result he believed there would be no new political movement until late August or early September.

The 108-member devolved assembly in Belfast was suspended last October when both sides could not agree on how to move forward the peace process and amid allegations that Sinn Féin was using its position in Stormont to spy on unionists.

Fresh elections were due to be held last week, but were cancelled by Tony Blair under pressure from the unionists.

The Irish Government did not believe the move was necessary at the time.