The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has personally urged the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to speedily move on demilitarisation to enhance the prospects of Sinn Féin and the DUP signing off on a deal to restore devolution. Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor reports
He made a number of telephone calls to Mr Blair over recent days to impress upon him that rapid demilitarisation would be a major component in persuading republicans to endorse a deal to restore devolution, according to well-placed sources.
The Taoiseach took the initiative because of a Sinn Féin concern that in the initial stages of the potential deal on offer republicans would be seen to be making the concessions and the DUP the political gains, sources said.
"There is a worry that the deal is front-loaded against republicans and that there is a requirement for a more balanced deal," explained one senior insider. Ahead of crucial meetings in Dublin and London today, the Rev Ian Paisley, meanwhile, has unsettled the British and Irish governments' carefully crafted attempt to achieve a Northern political deal by stating that republicans must be "humiliated" and that they must wear "sackcloth and ashes".
The British and Irish governments last night refused to comment on Dr Paisley's remarks in Ballymena, Co Antrim, on Saturday night, although there can be no doubting the DUP leader's attack on Sinn Féin and the IRA at such a sensitive time will cause anxieties. A Sinn Féin spokesman last night said: "I don't think you would need to be a republican activist to know how republicans would react."
"The IRA needs to be humiliated," Dr Paisley said in the DUP heartland of Ballymena on Saturday where a BBC team filmed his speech which was broadcast last night.
"And they need to wear their sackcloth and ashes, not in a backroom but openly. And we have no apology to make for the stand we are taking," added Dr Paisley.
"I say look at the heartache the IRA has brought to the countless homes across the province. The pride of republicans cannot be allowed to prevent progress any longer."
The Sinn Féin spokesman said that it was obvious that Dr Paisley's comments "were not helpful". He refused to say whether they would seriously undermine the efforts to secure a political deal.
Spokespersons for the Taoiseach and British Prime Minister said it was a matter for Dr Paisley to explain his remarks. This will cause concern however, notwithstanding the fact that Dr Paisley was pitching his comments to a hardline audience, and that frequently ahead of historic compromise leaders make apparently uncompromising speeches to their political base.
Mr Ahern, in a speech in Trinity College Dublin recently, emphasised that seeking to "humiliate" republicans would damage the efforts to strike a deal.
Last week the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, admonished the DUP deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson for a reference to republican "gangsters".
Mr Adams said if the DUP was serious about a deal it should at least try to be civil and temperate in its choice of language.
Yesterday's symbolically significant first official meeting between the PSNI chief constable, Mr Hugh Orde, and Mr Adams in Downing Street to discuss demilitarisation was organised by Mr Blair at the request of the Taoiseach, it is understood.
Mr Adams said afterwards that demilitarisation, in republican heartlands particularly, was essential. Mr Ahern and Mr Blair will hear today the Sinn Féin and DUP responses to the governments' blueprint for restoring the Northern Executive and Assembly.
A Sinn Féin delegation led by Mr Adams will meet Mr Blair in Downing Street either tomorrow or on Thursday.