Taoiseach monitoring Northern situation 'carefully'

The Taoiseach has re-iterated Northern Secretary John Reid's assertion that there is no evidence the IRA is poised to resume its terror campaign.

A spokesman for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the Government was monitoring the situation ‘‘very carefully’’, after it emerged that a republican hit list had been found.

The spokesman said that the Government took the same view as Assistant Chief Constable Cramphorn that the development did not signify any threat of a return to IRA violence.

The spokesman added: ‘‘We have no information but we are monitoring the situation through the Northern Secretariat very carefully.’’