Ahern clarifies position on photographs

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday clarified to the Dáil the Government's position that IRA decommissioning must be photographed.

The Taoiseach included the clarification - demanded by DUP leader Ian Paisley - in a comprehensive statement to the House on the North.

"The proposals envisage two independent witnesses, the availability of photographs for inspection, as well as their later publication," he said.

Mr Ahern went on to say that he always understood that this issue would be difficult for the IRA, but said he and British Prime Minister Tony Blair understood the proposal would be considered by them in the context of an overall package.

"They have, of course, since said they are unable to agree to it," he said.

While the DUP had demanded a public apology from Mr Ahern before the party would return to talks, his clarification was sufficient yesterday to allow Mr Paisley lead a DUP delegation to meet Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern and Northern Secretary Paul Murphy at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, yesterday.

Mr Ahern further said that no deal would be possible without the IRA clarifying its commitment to a complete ending of paramilitarism and other illegal activity.

The Government's adherence to the Oireachtas' long standing tradition of bipartisanship on the North was robustly challenged by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, while Labour leader Pat Rabbitte questioned whether Mr Ahern's contentious statement on photography was a gaffe.

Mr Kenny said the Government needed to learn bipartisanship works both ways. He challenged the Taoiseach's claim to openness on the details of the "secret side deal" between the Government and the republican movement over the release of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe.

Mr Kenny revealed that, until this week, he had received no briefing of any description from the Government on Northern issues for more than 14 months.

"When I did receive briefings during 2003," he said, "the Taoiseach's plan to release these common criminals was never once mentioned.

"The Government can count on FG support, but do not ask us to write a blank cheque or expect us to give retrospective approval to secret deals."

In a clear reference to Mr Ahern's comments on photography last Monday, Mr Rabbitte did not portray them as a gaffe.

"I find it all the more surprising that the Taoiseach was ready to resile from that aspect of the proposed agreement, apparently at the behest of Sinn Féin, until it was clearly pointed out to him that he had undermined the fabric of his own negotiated document," he said.

He also criticised the marginalisation of parties like the SDLP and the UUP from the latest agreement. He said that under the new deal, if the SDLP of the UUP abstain from the vote on the Executive as a protest, "they would lose their automatic rights to have ministers nominated."