Ahern upbeat after arms report

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night insisted the ceasefire monitors’ report marked an important milestone to power sharing in the North.

Mr Ahern said he was encouraged by the findings, but the next survey in January will act as the real turning point.

Mr Ahern said: “Obviously, the initial signs are encouraging and important and are to be welcomed. It is too early to make a clear overall assessment.

“The IMC report in January requested by the two governments will be vital. The restoration of the institutions will be in focus as a real and viable possibility.

“We need to step up the pace of engagement on the issues so devolved institutions can be established next year without delay.”

The Taoiseach believes the North’s institutions could be restored by the spring of next year.

However, Sinn Féin dismissed the IMC report as “irrelevant”, branding the commission a front for “securocrats”.

The party’s Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy said the IRA had fulfilled all of the commitments made in its July statement and called on unionists to move forward.

Mr Murphy said: “The DUP must now decide if they are to come on board the peace process and the two governments must urgently address the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.”

Justice Minister Michael McDowell was also upbeat over future prospect. “There does appear to be the potential for a huge transformation in the situation in Northern Ireland and a full return to representative politics,” he said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair insisted the restoration of Sinn Féin’s assembly and British parliamentary allowances was a sensible step and urged the DUP to review its stance.

But DUP leader Ian Paisley was quick to dash any hopes of a breakthrough as he attacked the decision on SF allowances as “demeaning parliament”.

He said: “I have made the secretary of state aware of my outrage at this decision, that it has no basis in evidence, and have warned him that it will cripple unionist confidence to see the IRA rewarded for doing nothing.”

UUP assembly group deputy leader Danny Kennedy said the move was “part of the latest concession choreography to republicans”.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan insisted the IMC’s report “painted an encouraging picture”.