THE Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, yesterday denied that there had been formal talks between his party and the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bcrtie Ahern, on the formation of a new government. However, with a new TD in Leinster House, Sinn Fein now had "real influence".
Mr Adams, who met Mr Ahern two weeks ago, said: "We discussed many matters, but there have been no formal discussions between us and him about the formation of the next government."
He had been asked on BBC radio whether talks had taken place.
"We will come to all of this very positively. We want to see a stable government in the 26 counties", Mr Adams said. "A British government may feel that it can ignore or marginalise or refuse to recognise elected representatives in this part of the island. An Irish government cannot do that.
"This incoming governmerit cannot ignore Caoimhghin O Caolain in. He will be in the chamber, he will be in Leinster House, and I think you are going to see a different ball game entirely in terms of Sinn Fein's influence."
Mr Mark Durkan, a former chairman of the SDLP, said that the new Taoiseach would be sympathetic to the unionists. "The Bertie Ahern that I have seen perform over the past number of years, the Bertie Ahern that I listened to and saw in the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in Dublin, did not only have eyes and ears for the nationalist agenda."
The deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr John Taylor, said: "All unionists must now unite to face the opposition which is going to be presented to us in the coming months."
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said he was pessimistic about Mr Ahern becoming Taoiseach. He accused him of going behind the backs of the people of Northern Ireland to strike a deal with Mr Adams, adding: "There are bad days ahead for us in Northern Ireland."
The Alliance Party leader, Lord Alderdice, said that the general election in the Republic and other recent elections on these islands represented a "significant development" in politics.
Speaking of how the tables had turned in British and Irish politics, he said: "The position of Sinn F&in is likely to be more significant in terms of that parliament than it has been for years. I think what has happened is a major development and realignment in politics, and it will not be without its very significant impacts."
Mr David Ervine, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is close to the thinking of the loyalist UVF, said: "We have to look at Fianna Fail in opposition and then try and translate that into how they will behave in power. In opposition they have not behaved wonderfully well."
Mr Gary McMichael, leader of the Ulster Democratic Party, which is close to the thinking of the loyalist UDA, said that the attitudes of Mr Ahcrn and his party had not been very helpful.
"I think there is going to be a difficulty in unionism in placing Bertie Ahern in any respect. I think there is a great and justifiable degree of suspicion and I think it will be interesting to see how that translates in the talks."
He described as "duplicitous" Mr Ahern's decision to meet the Sinn Fein president before becoming Taoiseach but not afterwards.
"On a number of occasions when Fianna Fail were in opposition they criticised John Bruton for holding out his hands towards unionists and making statements which recognised the legitimacy of the unionist viewpoint. I think a lot of damage was done because of that
"What Bertie Ahern must realise is that he must seek to gain the confidence and acceptance of unionists. We are not particularly happy that the Irish Government are involved in the talks process at all. Quite frankly, we don't feel comfortable with Bertie Ahern."
Mr McMichael continued: "Bertie Ahern must recognisc that he has a credibility difficulty in the unionist mind and he must ask himself what confidence building measures he is prepared to take to ally the fears and concerns of unionism."