Statement by IRA expected to come this week

There was speculation last night that the long-awaited IRA statement could come later this week, on Thursday or Friday, though…

There was speculation last night that the long-awaited IRA statement could come later this week, on Thursday or Friday, though both governments insist they have not been given advance notice.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and chief negotiator Martin McGuinness were in Dublin last night after a meeting earlier in London with British prime minister Tony Blair.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who was due to travel to Galway for the opening day of the races, has decided to return to Dublin later this week.

Usually, Mr Ahern travels from Galway to Kerry for his summer break.

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However, he now plans to return to Government Buildings on Friday.

Mr Adams refused to offer any extra information last night. He told The Irish Times: "I am just not commenting.

"I know that there is a very legitimate and, perhaps, understandable interest in what is going on at the moment.

"Our focus is on a positive result.

"We are working very hard and I can tell you on behalf of the Sinn Féin leadership that we are absolutely and totally committed to moving this process ahead.

"One, but only one, part of this is the IRA conclusion to their internal consultation process. I repeat what I have said already. They need the space to conclude that.

"The rest of us, the Sinn Féin party, political parties, unionism generally and the DUP in particular, need to be facing up to the challenges ahead," Mr Adams added.

In spite of recent reports that they have just stood down from positions on the IRA army council, Mr Adams last night again rejected suggestions that he and other top Sinn Féin figures have held places on the council.

According to security sources, Mr Adams, Mr McGuinness and Sinn Féin Kerry North TD Martin Ferris are understood to have voluntarily stood down last week.

Their places have been taken, according to security sources, by a number of "IRA military figures", including one from Co Tyrone.

Questioned briefly about the matter last night, Mr Adams was emphatic: "We can't stand down from a body of which we were not members."

The information, which was reported in the Irish Independent on Saturday, has not been questioned by Irish and British security sources.

However, Mr Adams was dismissive: "The periodical which carried that has hardly any real insight into what is going on inside republicanism."

Mark Hennessy

Mark Hennessy

Mark Hennessy is Ireland and Britain Editor with The Irish Times