Ahern: 'Guardian governments must protect Agreement'

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today highlighted the role of the British and Irish governments as “guardians” of the Good Friday agreement following tomorrow’s anticipated suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

He told RTE radio: “I am not happy about it, but in the morning, (Northern Ireland) Secretary of State John Reid will suspend the institutions – that is inevitable now.

“We must now move to the new situation, and my view is that the two governments are guardians of the the agreement. We are determined to protect it, and we are not suspending the agreement.

“It will be important for the two governments to work closely in a way that reflects the principles of the agreement and protects and develops its achievements.”

Mr Ahern ruled out a continuing role in a shadow position for Northern Ireland First Minister and Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan, head of the province’s Social Democratic and Labour Party.

He declared: “Legally there is no process for doing that. If there is a basis for keeping people informed, for keeping them in touch, I have no difficulty.

“But from our point of view, the British-Irish Inter governmental Conference offers a practical way of the two governments acting together -and that is all.

“We will also keep in touch with the other parties. We know what the problems are and it beholds us all to find resolutions to them.”

He added: “It is going to be time consuming, but we have all given a lot of time to it and now we are going to have to do it again.

“The quicker we come to an honourable compromise, the better it will before the people of Northern Ireland.”

Mr Ahern said he felt it was “in no way advisable” to move away from next May’s timing for new elections in Northern Ireland.