Adams calls for return to power-sharing

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams today called for a swift return to power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, following the announcement by the IRA that it was giving up its armed struggle.

Following talks in Downing Street with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr Adams said that there was no reason why there should not be an immediate return to devolved government, although he acknowledged that other parties would need time to absorb the impact of the IRA’s statement.

Earlier, however, Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley warned that there could be no question of his party sharing power with republicans until it was absolutely clear the IRA had given up its arms and all paramilitary activity.

Mr Adams stressed that it was essential to build on the momentum created by the IRA’s announcement last week.

“There is no reason why there should not be devolved government back in place today or tomorrow,” he said.

He added however: “It is, after all, only a week since the IRA’s announcement.

“While we are very clear on what needs to happen we have to accept that everyone needs to have an opportunity to absorb the import of the momentous decision and announcements by the IRA.”

Sinn Féin’s chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said that he hoped the DUP now would respond to the changed agenda.

He said that in the type of peace process in which they were engaged, they did not “wobble”.

“If you wobble you are in big difficulty. We are not wobblers,” he said.

“I think the DUP need to regain their nerve. I think they have to realise that they have a mighty contribution to bringing peace to Northern Ireland and they have to play their part.”

He dismissed as “unrealistic and ridiculous” suggestions that the DUP could take up to two years before it decided whether the IRA’s arms struggle was finally over.

Mr Blair staged a brief photo call with the Sinn Féin leaders in the entrance to No10 as they arrived for their talks.

However there was no historic first public handshake with Mr Adams, despite speculation that it would take place.

Mr Adams sought to play down the issue saying: “I have shaken the prime minister’s hand on a number of occasions.”

In contrast however Mr Paisley was photographed shaking hands with Mr Blair when he arrived for his meeting in Downing Street earlier in the day.

The DUP leader again insisted that there could be no talks on resuming power sharing until it was clear that all IRA paramilitary activities had ended.

“We are not going to have any discussions about devolution until the requirements Mr Blair himself set out are fulfilled by the IRA,” he said.

His deputy Peter Robinson added: “We will take a prolonged period of time to make that assessment that they have gone and gone for good.”

The DUP have been angered by the speed of the government’s decision to scale back security in the province in the wake of the IRA’s statement.

“The British government has caved in and given them concession after concession. We said we cannot tolerate this,” Mr Paisley said.