The Taoiseach has expressed doubts of a full settlement to the issues causing the impasse in the Northern peace process. "I do not think, and I have not thought for some time, that it is possible to get a conclusive and comprehensive final position on all the items which are not agreed, namely demilitarisation, decommissioning and policing," Mr Ahern said.

"If everyone puts in the required effort, including the Irish Government, we could get a process that would allow us to manage those issues over a difficult summer.

"I do not understand why people would want to leave issues in a vacuum and, not least, have a process which moves them safely into a future period. That is why I am anxious to come to at least that conclusion over the next few days."

Pressed by Mr Austin Currie (FG, Dublin West) Mr Ahern said it would be "nicer, easier and, from a negotiating point of view, safer to conclude totally on the policing issue and move on". He said that was not likely this side of an election unless things changed dramatically in the next 48 or 72 hours. Asked by Mr Currie about a speech in south Armagh by a leading member of the IRA, Brian Keenan, the Taoiseach said whatever about the comments of individuals, the leadership of Sinn Fein had brought the republican movement to participate in democratic politics by signing up to the Belfast Agreement and in all of the discussions held since then.

"It is still doing so in all the discussions we are having to implement fully all aspects of the agreement. I have noted the strong condemnation by a number of Sinn Fein leaders . . . of the bombing of the BBC in London."