‘Irish Government’s role was very limited’

GERRY ADAMS last night accused Taoiseach Bertie Ahern of abandoning efforts to resolve the policing issue that has held up power-sharing in the north.

As the party leadership announced it had reached agreement on a way out of the impasse, Mr Adams described the Irish Government’s input as ‘‘a matter of grave disappointment’’.

‘‘The Irish Government’s role was very limited and has been so for some time and that is also very disappointing.

“I have told the Taoiseach that,’’ he said.

Mr Adams made his remarks after emerging from a six-hour meeting of his party’s Ard Chomhairle (executive) at which there was a majority decision to put a motion to all the members calling for the party to back the Police

Service of Northern Ireland and appoint members to the policing boards.

The Sinn Féin president described the marathon talks as some of the most difficult negotiations the party had undertaken in the 13 years since the ceasefire.

‘‘It’s been a hefty day, it’s been a very awesome task. The debate was frank, comradely and robust and we have a very united Ard Chomhairle facing into the challenges ahead.’’

Flanked by MEP Mary Lou McDonald, and negotiators Martin McGuinness, Pat Doherty and Gerry

Kelly, Mr Adams stressed this was just the first step in a process of bringing the party’s new position on policing to its wider membership.

In a statement issued as the meeting concluded, he said: ‘‘I realise that this is a very difficult issue for many nationalists and republicans.’’

In the press conference that followed he promised a detailed round of meetings with republican communities, particularly veterans and those who had been suffered or been bereaved through police misconduct and collusion.

He said he was appealing to republicans and nationalists to get involved in the talks process.

‘‘I would appeal to them to say their bit,’’ he said.

‘‘We have a huge job of work to do in the time ahead,” said Mr Adams.

“I am totally wedded to the idea of every single person who wants to be part of the debate being part of the debate because it’s about the future, the type of Ireland we want to see.’’

Mr Adams stressed that the Árd Fheis was contingent on a positive response from the Irish and British governments and others, including the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) but he would not speculate on the response of unionists.

‘‘In fairness to the DUP and in fairness to the unionist people, let them sort that out. Let’s not be trying to set preconditions or set their bar.

“Let’s hope they respond positively and their leaders respond in the best way.’’

He would not set a date for the Árd Fheis, except to say that it would take place in January but there was speculation that it has been pencilled in for the last weekend of that month.

Neither would he set a target date for Sinn Féin appointments to the policing boards, saying they were matters that would be decided at the Árd Fheis.