Taoiseach: IRA disassociating itself from crime ahead of report

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has said that all the security information he has received suggests Republicans are disassociating themselves from crime.

Mr Ahern is hoping that belief will be confirmed by the next two reports from the International Monitoring Commission. The first is due this month.

Speaking to Sky News today, Mr Ahern said Sinn Féin and the IRA have to show a clean slate if the political institutions are to be re-established in the North.

“I hope that this period will help all of us, including the DUP, to see that we’re moving onto a new ground, into a new landscape, where we’ll be able to build that trust and confidence, and hopefully in the New Year be able to move on to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement in all its respects – particularly giving an assembly to Northern Ireland, giving a working cross-party executive to Northern Ireland," he said.