Elections must be held before Christmas - Ahern

Elections must be held in the North before Christmas, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told an American university audience last night.

“Time is short and we must all act soon to get politics back on track,” he told several hundred people after accepting an honorary doctorate of law degree from Fairfield University in Connecticut.

“It’s crucial the election is held before Christmas,” he said.

The vote, which Britain cancelled in May, would determine which parties control the 108 member Northern Ireland Assembly. The MLAs would have the crucial power to confirm – or prevent – a revival of any power-sharing administration.

Power-sharing is one of the major goals outlined in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to promote reconciliation between Protestants and Catholics.

Britain cancelled the Assembly vote after concluding that, until the IRA made detailed new peace commitments, Protestant parties would refuse to form a new power-sharing administration including Sinn Féin.

Ahern also issued a plea to President George Bush for the US to remain involved in the peace process.

“I take this opportunity to ask the president and the rest of the United States to continue encouraging the parties to make the final steps toward full implementation of the Good Friday agreement,” he said.