DUBLIN REACTION: The main Opposition parties have urged the republican movement to meet its "obligations" after the Irish and British governments postponed publication of proposals to revive devolution in the North.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, said Sinn Féin in particular should take its responsibilities seriously so that the required acts of completion could be agreed without delay.
He said failure to do this would "seriously undermine public confidence in the political process" and boost those opposed to the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Kenny said the cancellation of the Hillsborough meeting yesterday was "very regrettable". He said the time had come to implement the agreement and acts of completion would pave the way for elections next month to the Assembly.
The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said the republican movement would never be forgiven if it reneged on its obligations and undermined the opportunity for progress. Failure to publish the governments' proposals was a "very serious development".
"It is particularly disappointing that this should have happened on the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday agreement which gave so much hope to the people of this island that the violence that had scarred so many lives could be permanently ended," he said.
Mr Rabbitte said the peace process placed responsibilities on all political parties. "People all over this island will take a very harsh view of any party that seeks to block or undermine progress for the sake of narrow political advantage," he said.
The Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, appealed to Sinn Féin and to the Ulster Unionists to remember "how dangerous an ongoing vacuum can be" and to choose engagement in the process rather than stalling it.
"This is an all-too familiar pattern, unfortunately, when decisions have to be taken in the process are strung out for the longer possible time," he said.
Sinn Féin's leader in the Dáil, Mr Caoimhgín Ó Caoláin, said a debate on the peace process scheduled for next Tuesday should proceed. "The debate is an opportunity for constructive engagement. It should not be used as a blame game," he said.
Mr Ó Caoláin said the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, should ensure it was an informed debate by publishing the proposals developed by the two governments.
