SDLP leader meets Irish Taoiseach to discuss situation

The leader of SDLP John Hume has met with the Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to discuss the latest developments at home and abroad.

The meeting was held to discuss the IRA decision last Tuesday to withdraw its offer to put weapons beyond use in response to the Northern Ireland Secretary’s decision to suspend the institutions for one day and the latest developments in Columbia.

The Irish premier broke his holiday in Kerry to meet with the nationalist party leader in Dublin Parliament Buildings on Thursday August 16.

Speaking before he went into his meeting, Mr Hume said: “If we concentrate our minds on outstanding matters we can resolve them and we can only resolve them through direct dialogue between the two governments and the pro-Agreement parties.”

Mr Hume called on Sinn Féin to make clear whether the three men currently being questioned in Columbia were members of the republican movement: “Given the speculation that is going on at the minute about the relationships of these three people, Sinn Fein should come out and make clear what the facts are. There is no doubt that the public are entitled to know what the facts are, given the damage that this publicity is doing to our situation.”

A spokesperson for the SDLP said that after the hour long meeting, both Bertie Ahern and John Hume agreed that it was of paramount importance that the IRA recommence negotiations with General John de Chastelain and the decommissioning body in order to ensure arms were verifiably and completely put beyond use.

The spokesman also said that the imminent arrival of the implementation package for RUC reform was discussed at the meeting although, the party, he added would take its time to consider the details in full. (AMcE)