Ahern to give assessment before British-Irish body

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will today give his assessment on developments in the North when he addresses a meeting of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body in Dublin.

The 68-member body, which was set up to strengthen links and co-operation between Ireland and the UK, is meeting at the Castleknock Hotel in west Dublin.

Mr Ahern is expected to express optimism about the prospects for restoring devolution in the North ahead of Assembly elections due to take place this week.