Taoiseach Bertie Ahern assured a delegation from the Progressive Unionist Party last night that "the constitutional issue was settled in the Good Friday agreement and that everyone's rights and aspirations are protected in the new democratic institutions".
Accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern at the hour-long talks in Government Buildings, the Taoiseach reiterated his determination that the peace process should "leave no one behind", adding that he hoped loyalism could now "move on". A Government spokeswoman said the Taoiseach congratulated PUP leader Dawn Purvis on her election to the Northern Ireland Assembly and had pledged that the Government would "support in any way we can a new peaceful status for loyalist groups".
Speaking to reporters afterwards, the PUP leader said "the meeting was warm and cordial". The PUP delegation had sought assurances on "a number of issues" from the Taoiseach.
"We received those assurances very clearly and loudly." The delegation asked for guarantees on the constitutional status of Northern Ireland in particular. "We sought assurances that there would be no joint authority and the Taoiseach told us, as far as he was concerned, the constitutional question had been settled and is off the table.
"There is no Plan B and they'll not be working towards any Plan B. They're quite happy to work the Good Friday agreement and the St Andrews Agreement and I am assured by that."
The delegation also inquired about republican dissident activity south of the Border. "The Taoiseach assured us that the Government would do all in their power to quell any activity that there was." She said the Taoiseach, in turn, "had a few questions" about the intentions of the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando. Ms Purvis told him both of these loyalist organisations wanted "political stability" and "an accountable democracy" in Northern Ireland.
The PUP is often seen as the political counterpart of the UVF and, when journalists asked her about reports that a major UVF statement was imminent, Ms Purvis replied: "I'm not going to speculate or comment on speculation." She said the Taoiseach had not raised the issue of alleged UVF death threats to more than 100 republicans and nationalists in the North, which were highlighted yesterday by Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
"No, he didn't raise it," Ms Purvis said. "There is no threat posed by the UVF or the Red Hand to anyone." Mr Ó Snodaigh said the reported UVF threats to republicans and nationalists were "unacceptable" and the matter should "top the agenda" in discussions between the Taoiseach and the PUP.
