The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, last night warmly welcomed Sinn Fein's decision to seek a restoration of the IRA ceasefire. "I trust and hope that their response will be positive as this would be very good news for all the people of Ireland," he said.
"For the three weeks that I have been in office, I and the Government have given absolute priority to restoring the ceasefire. Much detailed clarification on many issues has had to be provided, in many cases by both governments, as is clear from documents in the public domain.
"If an IRA ceasefire now follows, I look forward to the opening of inclusive and substantive all-party talks in September. We must all unite to consolidate peace and to ensure that the gun in Irish politics is silenced for the last time."
The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, last night urged the IRA to call an unequivocal ceasefire without delay. "Its absence remains the single biggest obstacle to the creation of an inclusive, partnership society in Northern Ireland."
She added that an unequivocal ceasefire would transform the political landscape in the North, and "allow everyone to get on with the task of securing an all-embracing political settlement which respects and upholds the traditions of both communities".
Mr John Bruton, the leader of Fine Gael, welcomed yesterday's "evidence . . . that the republican movement has finally made up its mind to call another ceasefire".
He added: "I hope that, on this occasion, there will be a complete recognition from the grassroots upwards in the republican movement that killing, bombing and punishment beatings are not the way to resolve the problems of a divided society."