Ahern: Failure to form executive would be unconscionable
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said a failure to form a power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland after this week’s election would be “unconscionable and deeply regrettable”.
Addressing the British-Irish Inter Parliamentary Body in Dublin, Mr Ahern said: “An Executive must be formed on March 26th. 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.”
And he warned: “Failure to form an executive as envisaged in the St Andrews Agreement would be a missed opportunity of historic proportions. Such a failure would see the newly-elected assembly dissolved indefinitely.”
“This would be a loss for the people of Northern Ireland. But they, as much as the two governments, know that there would be no alternative. In these circumstances we have said that the two governments will implement the Good Friday Agreement through new partnership arrangements.”
He commended Sinn Fein for its “landmark” decision to endorse policing in the province and said the focus on bread and butter issues such as water rates was “encouraging”.
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