Governments vow to restore Assembly

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday committed to restoring devolution in the North this year even if the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) makes some negative findings about the IRA.

Speaking at Farmleigh House, where they issued a joint statement on the peace process, both leaders stressed their determination to renew efforts to find a final peaceable settlement.

Notably, both placed emphasis on the IRA’s July statement - and its subsequent decommissioning - as events of huge significance that opened up new possibilities.