Leaders urge arms move `within weeks'

The Taoiseach said he hoped the inspection of IRA arms dumps would begin "within weeks". Mr Ahern, replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said he did not know when the first inspections would take place, but he hoped it would be as soon as possible. "Within weeks?" suggested Mr Bruton.

Mr Ahern replied: "Yes, within weeks. If it happens as soon as possible, it would help to eliminate tensions and difficulties for the Ulster Unionist Party." Mr Trevor Sargent (Green Party, Dublin North) asked the Taoiseach if the Government had any knowledge of the substance of Mr John Taylor's claims that the Secretary of State had given unionists particular assurances relating to policing. Mr Ahern said Mr Taylor had been helpful on numerous recent occasions.

"I have not been talking directly to him, but I know he has been expressing his views on aspects of the RUC. I did not hear what he said the other day, and I did not see any actual report of his comments at the meeting.

"However, as I understand his position, he accepts fully that from September 2001 the first recruits will enter the new police service of Northern Ireland. He talks about the interregnum period and what should be in the title. Those are issues between him and the Secretary of State. Our position is clear on these matters."

Mr Ahern said he did not want to create unnecessary tension. "Many meetings are taking place on these aspects. The easiest thing on God's Earth is to find issues on which people can criticise each other."

Asked by Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) if there was a real commitment on the part of the British government to creating a genuine community-based police force, the Taoiseach said that there had been some "strains and stresses" since it signed up to the Patten report.

"We have continuously indicated that the Patten report was a compromise and not written by nationalists in the North."

They had to try to understand the sensitivities of both sides. "If the Patten report is not recommended by the SDLP and Sinn Fein, there is no chance of young nationalists joining the police force, which would be a disaster for the work of Patten.

"In understanding some of the sensitivities of unionists and the issues they raise, we must try to find compromises which ensure the Patten report is fully implemented and is recommended and sold in nationalist and republican communities in Northern Ireland so we can have a proper police service."

Asked by Mr Bruton if there had been any commitment from loyalist paramilitaries to allow inspection of weaponry, Mr Ahern said there not been any progress on that matter yet.

"Both governments asked the loyalist paramilitaries and their political associates to consider the full extent of the agreements on May 5th," he said.

"I know there is a consultation process going on between the various groupings, but as yet, other than some of the statements they have made in the public domain, there has not been any other news." The statements suggested they would wait some time to see what happened regarding inspections and other matters before they came to a conclusion.

"We can build confidence over time if there is movement by the IRA and the institutions are up and running. Hopefully, we will then see progress from the loyalist parties."

Mr Ahern agreed with Mr Bru ton that paramilitary punishment beatings were "absolute barbarism", and it concerned him that there seemed to be an acceptance of them in some communities.