Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has confirmed plans to develop a strategy that may see Fianna Fáil becoming an all-Ireland party, a decision which has been met with mixed reaction by political parties in the North.
Speaking at a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting at Druids Glen, Co Wicklow, today, the Taoiseach said it was now time for the party to play its full role in a new Ireland.
"Only now, with the Northern Executive and Assembly in place. Only now, that we have convinced all but the dissident fringe of nationalism to embrace peace. Only now, that the two great traditions on this island are reconciled, can we take this historic move," Mr Ahern told delegates at the "think-in".
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
"I am announcing that Fianna Fáil, the Republican Party, will now move to develop a strategy for organising on a 32-county basis," he added. "This move reflects the dramatic changes we have seen across the island."
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has been selected to lead efforts to develop the strategy, which may include a possible merger with the SDLP.
While the SDLP has previously ruled out such a possibility, the party's leader Mark Durkan welcomed today's announcement, saying that he saw "huge opportunity" for new partnership and cooperation.
"As a true republican party, we believe that the social and economic interests of the people of the entire island are best served by ever-deepening cooperation between North and South.
We anticipate a healthy and forward-looking debate as a means to forging a new political path for the whole country," said Durkan.
Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris also offered his support to Fianna Fáil's intention to develop its party within the Six Counties.
"It is regretful that it has taken Fianna Fáil so long to embrace the positive aspects of developing its party throughout the 32 counties but we are encouraged that the Taoiseach has finally acknowledged the importance of such a move," said Ferris.
UUP leader Reg Empey
"We are delighted that Fianna Fáil has finally taken our lead and look forward to the political challenges ahead should they progress this project beyond the planned initial committee work."
While republican parties in the North were supportive of the decision, the Ulster Unionist Party's (UUP) leader Reg Empey said that Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fáil had "thrown a grenade into the middle of Northern Ireland politics" by announcing its its intention to organise on an all-Ireland basis.
"The last thing we need is another abstentionist party organising here. Bertie Ahern at a stroke has transformed himself from a potential partner in the process of normalisation, to a rival," said Mr Empey.
"The prospect of Fianna Fáil Ministers being in both the NI Executive and the Dublin Government could put unbearable strain on the political process before it has had a chance to settle down. A most unwise and unhelpful decision from Bertie Ahern. It will fuel demands from unionists to seek further links with mainland parties as a counterbalance to the Fianna Fáil move," added Mr Empey.
However, DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said unionists could benefit from another competitor for nationalist votes.
"We have the prospect of unionists making some gains in the parliamentary elections," he said.
"If Fianna Fail believe that this is some kind of a Trojan horse that helps deliver a united Ireland, Sinn Féin have discovered to their cost that organising on both sides of the border doesn't create a dynamic for unification and it is a drain on a political party's resources with little return."
Additional reporting: PA
