Ahern warning over power sharing failure
RTÉ
26 June 2006 11:23
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, has warned that a failure to restore power sharing government in Northern Ireland could give way to a new generation of sectarianism.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, Mr Ahern said sectarian hate was ‘just under the surface’ in Northern society.
The British and Irish Governments will today review the lack of progress in restoring devolution to Belfast since parties were given a November deadline for a breakthrough.
Mr Ahern will meet the Northern Secretary, Peter Hain, at Hillsborough Castle.
Although the deadline for the restoration of power sharing in Northern Ireland has been set for 24 November, progress has been slow.
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will meet all the Northern Ireland parties on Thursday.
This morning’s discussions between Mr Hain and Mr Ahern will be to finalise the agenda for the Thursday meeting.
Both governments are likely to repeat this week that they are serious about closing Stormont in November unless there is a power-sharing executive in place.
It is also expected that Dermot Ahern and Peter Hain will give details of new measures to facilitate free on public transport systems for pensioners throughout Ireland.
