SDLP may seek merger with Fianna Fáil

BERTIE AHERN’S plans to expand Fianna Fáil into Northern Ireland could come to fruition far sooner than expected, as some leading SDLP figures are reportedly seeking a merger with his party.

In the wake of the SDLP’s poor results in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections, the Taoiseach will be contacted by a group of senior party members this week seeking to evolve into Fianna Fáil, according to reports yesterday.

As the fallout from the Assembly elections rumbled on, Mr Ahern’s spokesperson confirmed last night that any approach would be considered if and when it was made.

Last night, Mr Ahern’s spokesperson didn’t rule out the chances of a merger and noted the current constructive relationship between the two parties.

“We don’t have anything yet and if a proposal came in, we would look at it. Fianna Fáil have always had strong links with the SDLP and many TDs canvassed with them in the elections.” he said.

Also yesterday, as Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy resisted nationalist demands to lift the suspension of the power-sharing Assembly, Mr Ahern appeared to offer a ray of hope in the deadlock, stating that there was scope for discussion of many of the issues Ian Paisley’s DUP had with the present peace process.

“The election has thrown up some imponderables that we just have to now manage our way through but that is the will of the people of Northern Ireland and now the two governments have to get on with it,” he said.

The report of the clamour for a SDLP merger with Fianna Fáil was published in The Observer yesterday, but the newspaper said none of the five party figures due to write to the Taoiseach this week was prepared to be named.

Political commentators believe that as Ireland’s largest party, Fianna Fáil could prove highly attractive to many Northern nationalists and would end Sinn Féin’s claim to be the only 32-county party.

Meanwhile, Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble, whose party secured 27 seats in last week’s poll, could face a leadership challenge when his party meets today. He faces a showdown with his bitter rival Jeffrey Donaldson, who is calling on him to resign.