THE British deputy Prime Minister, Mr Michael Heseltine, expressed hope during a visit to Northern Ireland that the breakdown of the IRA ceasefire was temporary.
Mr Heseltine, who was in Northern Ireland to meet business executives and industrialists, said the transformation in attitude during the peace process had excited many people. It was a shame that the IRA ceasefire had been interrupted, and the British government hoped it could be restored as soon as possible, he added.
Mr Heseltine visited a number of factories and industrial plants. His first engagement was at Ulster Carpets in Portadown, Co Armagh, where he met some of its 600 employees.