The Government is putting politics before the peace process, the deputy chairperson of the Policing Commission said yesterday.
Speaking on RTÉ radio's This Week, Mr Denis Bradley accused the Government of "putting at the heart of their politics a situation whereby the politics of the South are primary to the politics of the peace process in Northern Ireland."
He said the Government had "disengaged" from the process.
"Eighteen months ago the Irish Government expected that the last deal of the Good Friday agreement was going to be made. That would mean that in some form or other the IRA would go away. In those days they were talking about decommissioning, and that they would join the policing board and take their proper place within policing.
"But it didn't happen and the Irish Government felt that they had worked very hard at this and were annoyed, perhaps even embittered, but certainly frustrated with Sinn Féin, that they had over-negotiated and over-played their hand. I think the Irish Government's assessment is correct."
Mr Bradley said he believes this created a political vacuum with many false starts, resulting in the Irish Government changing strategy, strongly led by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Mr Bradley said he believes Mr Ahern's view was that "if Sinn Féin is not going to do it one way, they have to do it another way and we'll let the dogs of war out at them".
"Michael McDowell, I think, was let off the leash and he scolded and chastised Sinn Féin in all kinds of fashion . . . and nobody in the local pubs in the Bogside would have been very surprised by any of the stuff that's come either from Michael McDowell, or indeed from the Independent Commission.
Mr Bradley was emphatic, however, that that was not the problem.
"The problem is there is no political momentum and no political strategy running alongside all of that, because the Irish Government have now disengaged.
"They are not now doing the type of things that I think 18 months ago they would agree they should have done. Brian Cowen could, probably, in my opinion, if Bertie Ahern would let him; I think that Brian Cowen could probably sort this situation out in two weeks. I think that Sinn Féin are up for the final deal, and I think that the DUP are edging their way and should be edged further by the British Government to actively make this final deal come about."
Mr Bradley went as far as to say Mr Ahern has "taken the huff", and that the Irish Government is showing lack of political leadership at the moment.
"They did their political leadership in the past and decided that Sinn Féin was so difficult to work with, they wouldn't make the deal. I'm acknowledging that happened. I agree that happened, and I think Sinn Féin made a historical mistake 18 months ago."
When asked if he believes the only thing that's stopping a deal in the North is lack of political will on the part of the Irish Government, Mr Bradley replied: "Yes. The only thing that's stopping this deal being done is the Irish Government putting in the energy, and focusing on this for a number of weeks, and bringing it about."