The statement from the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe, expressing regret for his death, was "helpful", the Taoiseach said yesterday.
Bertie Ahern also said he regretted the "difficult times" he and others had put the McCabe family through over the years.
Speaking to reporters at an event at Croke Park yesterday, Mr Ahern, however, said Sinn Féin's assertion that it was no longer seeking the release of Det Garda McCabe's killers as part of a deal in the North was irrelevant.
"We went to the Supreme Court on that issue," he said. "Lest anyone forget, we went all the way to the Supreme Court to vindicate the right of the Minister for Justice to make a determination as to who we believed were eligible prisoners. And we have from day one said that they were not eligible under the Good Friday agreement. So that matter is closed." He said it was "always good to hear people showing remorse" and he thought it "years, years on, is helpful".
On the McCabe family, and Det Garda McCabe's widow in particular, he said: "I think we have all, including myself, put the McCabe family through some difficult times over the last few years. And I've said myself, I regret that. Obviously they would have liked to have heard a lot of these remarks a long time ago. I suppose it's regrettable that they didn't."
Asked about the mood in the United States this coming week, with the exclusion of Sinn Féin and other Northern parties from the White House St Patrick's Day celebrations, the Taoiseach said there would be "a lot of discussion" about the state of the Good Friday agreement.
"And on how we are going to find a way of moving that on and bring a success to all of the objectives and the hopes of the Good Friday agreement. I think there is mounting concern, as I understand it from leaders of Irish America, just where that all is."
He remained anxious to keep Sinn Féin within such discussions, "to keep this an inclusive process", he said. "It is definitely difficult at the moment to do that. But (SDLP leader) Mark Durkan, on television in Northern Ireland yesterday, made it absolutely clear that they believe the right process was to keep it an inclusive process. This week in the United States I think the Irish community look forward to hearing with a lot of concern this year just how things are."
The Government would communicate the state of the peace process and how best to move it on.
