Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has confirmed that the long awaited IRA statement is due today, almost certainly before a Sinn Fein press conference announced for 4pm.
PA quotes him as saying that: "The Dublin political establishment in particular will have a lot of soul-searching to do if those in political leadership are to meet the needs of the upcoming period."
This statement perhaps reflects the impact that Sinn Fein’s growth in the south of Ireland has had on the peace process.
The forthcoming moves are designed to pave the way for a power-sharing coalition between Sinn Fein and the DUP in the north.
However, Sinn Fein is also a significant party in the Republic, where the other political parties have been reluctant to accept it as a legitimate potential coalition partner.
The DUP has argued that it should not be expected to go into Government with Sinn Fein when southern parties were not prepared to do the same.
That means that the reaction of the British and Irish Governments today will have a double significance.
If it is positive, it will put the onus on the DUP to enter power-sharing. However, it will also send a signal that Sinn Fein is a legitimate player in the Republic.
For this reason, there have been a lot of signs over the past year that Sinn Fein’s relations with the Irish Government have been rocker than those with the British Government.
It’s worth bearing in mind this all-Ireland aspect to the peace process as events unfold today.
Slugger O’Toole is probably the best place to keep up with developments. Chris Gaskin at Balrog is also worth a look.
Leave a Reply