Ahern says North’s politicians marginalised

THE North’s political parties are marginalised and have no say on what is going in the region, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern conceded yesterday.

The Taoiseach said political parties in the North should now work hard to bring back the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive before the November 24 deadline set by himself and British Prime Minister Tony Blair for the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland.

Speaking to news media at the IMI National Management Conference in Druids Glen, Co Wicklow, the Taoiseach made it clear that he and Tony Blair would take over the running of the North if the deadline was not met.