Decision time in political process warns Blair

Time is running out for parties connected with paramilitary organisations to decide if they want to be part of the democratic process or not, Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday Mr Blair said that there can no longer be a process of transition in Northern Ireland and the position where some political parties are allied to paramilitary groups had to stop.

“People must decide if they are either part of the democratic process or not,” the Prime Minister said. “The moment of decision has actually long since passed and it’s simply got to be clear whether people have made their decision or not.

“If it proves impossible to go forward on that inclusive basis we will have to look for another way forward.”

Mr Blair’s comments come after Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern again blamed the IRA for the Northern Bank raid.

Speaking following a meeting with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, Mr Ahern said he was standing by the Garda assessment that the IRA was responsible for last month's £26.5m bank robbery.

"The Garda authorities which naturally I would look to in the first instance, their assessment is that this robbery was carried out by the Provisional movement,” Mr Ahern said.

"It would not have taken place, an operation of the scale of this, without the agreement and sanction of the provisional leadership. That is advice I as Taoiseach have to take."

However, Mr Adams said the Taoiseach had failed to back up his claims with firm evidence.

“We asked the Taoiseach to stand up his accusations that the Sinn Fein leadership had prior knowledge of the Northern Bank robbery,” the West Belfast MP said. “He failed to do this either during our meeting or in subsequent media interviews.

“We also rejected any suggestion that Sinn Féin was involved in criminality or that we have any special obligation to tackle any issue. We are opposed to criminality of any kind,” he said.

Mr Blair is to hold talks with Mr Adams at Chequers on Thursday when he is expected to reiterate demands for the IRA to cease all paramilitary and criminal activity.

(MB/SP)