Ahern pushes for North elections

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern warned that the peace process in Northern Ireland would be entering a very “bleak” period if elections were not held before Christmas.

Mr Ahern yesterday met with President Bush's special adviser on Northern Ireland Richard Haass in New York and announced afterwards that America, Britain and Ireland were all signed-up to an agreed three-point strategy to resolve the impasse.

The plan revolves around the early calling of elections, a clear gesture from republicans that they are moving towards ending paramilitarism, as well as an undertaking from unionists that they will take part in a power-sharing executive.