Taoiseach: ‘North progress needed in coming weeks’

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has expressed his view that agreement must be reached between the pro-agreement parties in the North in the coming weeks.

Speaking after a meeting with US envoy Richard Haass in New York, Mr Ahern warned that the whole peace process could enter a "very bleak" period if current efforts to restore the Northern Assembly and Executive ended in failure.