Taoiseach says republicans tapped phone calls between him and Blair
Mr Ahern said he had ordered extensive security reviews in several departments after the revelations which followed the Police Service of Northern Ireland raids on Sinn Féin earlier this month. The raids subsequently led to charges against three people in the North’s courts and the fall of the Belfast power-sharing assembly and government.
Replying to questions from Labour leader Ruairí Quinn, Mr Ahern said he had received a briefing from the British authorities which he had no reason to doubt. This informed him republicans had access to very sensitive documents which included, as suggested by Mr Quinn, the phone transcripts.
The Labour leader said it was time the Dáil passed a resolution, backed by all parties, calling for the disbandment of all paramilitary organisations.
And in Belfast yesterday Foreign Minister Brian Cowen spoke of the Irish and British Governments’ determination to restore the devolved power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland.
Emerging from talks with Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid at Hillsborough Castle, Mr Cowen said: “As the joint statement by the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister has indicated, the two governments are determined to press ahead with all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement.
“We have resolved to work closely together to create the political conditions which facilitate the restoration of the devolved institutions at the earliest possible date,” said Mr Cowen, joined in the Belfast talks by Justice Minister Michael McDowell.
Dr Reid said the problems in the Northern Ireland peace process over the existence of paramilitaries can be resolved if the political will is there.
Dr Reid was philosophical about the IRA’s dismissal of calls for it to stand down to save the Good Friday Agreement.
However, he hoped republicans would signal their commitment to the exclusive pursuit of politics in a keynote speech by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams next weekend.
As Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness prepared for talks in Washington with the US government, Dr Reid said of the IRA statement: “Well, let’s remember, it is 35 years since this conflict started. So in four or five days, where we have a major statement like that, I don’t think we should expect that we are going to have resolutions of some of the problems we face. I understand the president of Sinn Féin is to give a considered response.
“I welcome that fact because I think that the points that the Prime Minister (Tony Blair) had to make on the political as well as the paramilitary questions were points of substance which deserve a considered response.
“Of one thing I am certain: that there is a way in which to resolve these difficulties and if that political will is there, then we can work through the present problem, the way we have worked through problems in the past.”
Republicans have been under pressure to demonstrate they are embarking on a path of embracing totally peaceful and democratic means, resulting in the eventual standing down of the IRA as an army.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair last week warned republicans they had reached a “fork in the road” in the peace process where they now had to choose between paramilitarism and exclusively pursuing political solutions.
However, in a weekend briefing for journalists, a senior source in the Provisionals denied the organisation was a threat to the peace process.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams is preparing a speech for his party’s electoral representatives on both sides of the Border, to be delivered in Co Monaghan on Saturday.
Officials in the Irish and British Governments will closely scrutinise the speech for any indication of republican willingness to pursue a political path exclusively.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has told republicans they must demonstrate commitment to a process of IRA disbandment if power-sharing in the North is to be restored.
Mr Cowen said both governments were keeping their faith in politics.
“Those who would seek to fill any gap that they now perceive to be there by way of violence and sectarian and paramilitarism have no future.
“They provide no answers to the problems which beset this society here.”
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