Ahern and Bush to call on IRA to disband

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and US President George W Bush will jointly send out a message calling on the IRA to disband when the two leaders meet in the White House today.

The Taoiseach will visit Mr Bush in the Oval Office of the White House at 11am for the annual shamrock ceremony to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and PSNI Chief Constable Huge Orde are also in Washington DC for the ceremony.

Speaking ahead of the meeting in Washington last night, Mr Ahern told an audience of prominent Irish-American political and business leaders that progress in the peace process is predicated on the disbandment of the IRA.

While not referring to the republican organisation by name, Mr Ahern reiterated the theme that both he and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have been stressing in recent months, that the process could not continue unless paramilitarism came to an end.

“The key elements involved in the partnership we seek are the need for a definitive and immediate end to all paramilitary activity, no matter what its origin,” he said.

He said it also entailed an “acceptance that partnership means fully inclusive and stable government open to all whose electoral mandates entitle them to participate”.

Mr Ahern was addressing the Ireland America Fund dinner in the capital city last night, where he also presented the organisation’s annual peace prize to Mr Blair.

Both governments have expressed frustration in recent months at the lack of progress in restoring devolution. Mr Ahern’s assessment last night was positive in tone and content, emphasising his close political relationship with Mr Blair.

“Six years ago, we believed that the agreement had the potential to transform relationships on the island of Ireland,” he said.

“Six years later, based on the progress we have seen at first hand, we are more convinced than ever that this is the case.”

Mr Ahern presented the peace award to Northern Secretary Paul Murphy, who accepted it on behalf of his prime minister.

Mr Ahern said the two governments would work intensely over the next two weeks to try to bring a successful conclusion to the ongoing review of the agreement. He admitted that “substantial progress has been made, but we still have some way to go”.

The Taoiseach also referred to the terrorist atrocity in Madrid last week.

“Terrorism is an affront to all our democracies and strikes at the heart of the common values of Europe and the United States,” he said.

Mr Ahern will also attend a series of engagements on Capitol Hill today where he will meet senators and congressmen who have a special interest in Irish affairs.