Taoiseach signals IRA statement imminent

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday gave his clearest signal yet that the IRA’s long awaited statement on decommissioning its weapons arsenal is imminent.

Mr Ahern told the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) conference in Belfast: “We are very close to the next movement of events in Northern Ireland.”

Pressed whether that meant he expected an IRA announcement within the next few weeks, the Taoiseach replied: “I hope that we will see movement to the next stage within the month and that would obviously include that.”