Taoiseach regrets UUP statement

The Taoiseach has said the Statement by the Ulster Unionist Council is regrettable and a cause of concern.

Mr Ahern commenting on the UUP's threat to pull out of government said if there is to be devolved government, it must be on a basis which serves the interests of both communities and reflects the principle that the institutions are interlocking and interdependent.

Mr Ahern said that progress needs to be made with the Good Friday Agreement but that impeding it's operations was not the way forward.

It is now expected that members of the Irish Government will meet with the British to discuss the recent UUP ultimatum.