Peace process - Little chance of an early breakthrough

THE Taoiseach essentially called Ian Paisley’s bluff by not issuing a further apology for his remarks last week following his meeting with Gerry Adams.

The Democratic Unionists were contending that they would not meet Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern for further talks yesterday, unless Bertie Ahern apologised in the Dáil.

People have had more than enough of this kind of sorry politics. Sinn Féin should make a firm public declaration dissociating itself from all forms of criminality. But such an assurance should already have been sought.