The Irish and British governments' proposals on the publication of photographs of IRA decommissioning are "fair and reasonable", the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern has told the Dáil.
In a wide-ranging statement on the peace process, Mr Ahern said he understood the issue would be "difficult" for Republicans, but believed it would have been considered by them as part of the comprehensive plan outlined by Dublin and London last Wednesday.
The Taoiseach, Mr ahern
Mr Ahern said the publication of photographs would not have taken place until the formation of an Executive in March, months after decommissioning itself.
"If all this had worked, my own view is that a far more compelling photograph would have been one of the formation of a DUP/Sinn Fein-led Executive at that time," Mr Ahern said.
On Monday, speaking after meeting Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness of Sinn Féin, Mr Ahern said the idea of publishing photographs was "not workable". The comments prompted Mr Ahern to telephone the Rev Ian Paisley to apologise for the comments after the DUP threatened to break contact with the Government.
Dr Paisley also demanded Mr Ahern repeat the apology on the public record in the Dáil before it agreed to meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, in Hillsborough Castle this afternoon.
It is unclear if Mr Ahern's Dáil speech is sufficient to please the DUP.
Mr Ahern also said the IRA would need to go further to satisfy the Government in relation to the ending of alleged criminality.
"We have always been clear, and it was commonly understood throughout this entire period of engagement, that the ending of all paramilitary activity must also encompass all other illegal activity," Mr Ahern said.
"The IRA statement on Thursday, while confirming their intentions in relation to that organisation moving to a new mode, issuing instructions to volunteers and completing decommissioning to a rapid time-scale, did not address this issue in the clear terms required by the Government.
"Clarification is required that the IRA's commitment is indeed, to a complete ending of paramilitarism and other illegal activity," the Taoiseach added.
Mr Ahern was upbeat on the prospects for an agreement leading to power sharing between the DUP and Sinn Féin. He said he did not see things in a "negative frame".
"I have always believed that this end-phase would be difficult. But just because it is difficult and awkward does not mean that we should avoid taking on the outstanding issues."
"Let me make my position clear. I will not settle for a half-solution. I will take the political risks for peace. And I expect others also to do so.
"The Good Friday Agreement made a real difference to the politics of this island and to the lives of all its people. But the Governments' proposals would bring closure to issues, which were not, or could not be, resolved at that time. There were many such issues.
"It is now time to deal with them once and for all and build the final bridge to peace," he added.
