Doubts remain over IRA’s peace moves

MAJOR doubts remain over whether the IRA’s statement on its future plans goes far enough to secure a new Northern Ireland peace deal.

The peace process remains deadlocked as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair continue to press the IRA for more clarity about its intentions.

The Taoiseach and the prime minister are expected to talk about the ongoing negotiations today as they attend the EU summit in Athens. But the two leaders have yet to decide upon publication of their joint proposals on restoring the Northern Ireland institutions. Officials from the two governments will continue with their negotiations and tomorrow afternoon is the next available time for publishing the proposals at Hillsborough.