Taoiseach says Anglo-Irish relations have never been better

Anglo-Irish relations have never been better, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told British and Irish politicians in Dublin tonight.

Addressing the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body, the Taoiseach also said Wednesday's elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were `'the end of the line'' for political parties like the DUP and Sinn Fein.

Mr Ahern told members at its 34th session in Castleknock: "I am pleased to say that relations between Ireland and Britain are better now than they have ever been."

The Taoiseach referred to the Six Nations rugby international between Ireland and England at Croke Park last month and last year's commemorations of the 1916 Rising and of the Battle of the Somme.

"We must continue to work together in every way that we can to preserve and build on this extraordinary progress," Mr Ahern added.

"Working with Prime Minister Tony Blair, cooperation and partnership between our governments has been brought to a new level. This also has to be the way of the future."

The 68-member BIIPB was established in 1990 as a link between Westminster and Dublin, with 25 British MPs and 25 Irish TDs.

It now includes representatives from the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Isle of Man and Channel Islands.

Mr Ahern said power sharing must be restored after the elections.

"What is clearer now than it has ever been at any point is that the people want their locally elected politicians to sit together in government and take decisions on these issues. Direct Rule is not what the people of Ireland, North and South, endorsed in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement referendums."

He continued: "An executive must be formed on March 26. This is the end of the line. The two Governments have made this abundantly clear. We have painstakingly, patiently and honourably followed and delivered, step by step, on the St Andrews Agreement."

"It would be unconscionable and deeply regrettable if this agreed deadline was missed and if the opportunity to govern was not taken. Patience has already been stretched and I do not believe that the people would take kindly to further delay. The war is over. The key issues are sorted."