1 May 1997 Edition
Ahern slams Bruton's role in peace process
BY MICHEAL MacDONNCHA
The attack by Fine Gael Justice Minister Nora Owen on Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern shows that her party can still play Civil War politics when they believe it is in their interest. Owen accused Ahern of ``providing excuses for the gunmen and bombers''.
The speech which drew Owen's wrath was made by Bertie Ahern at the Fianna Fáil Easter commemoration in Arbour Hill last Sunday. He said that the vision of peace had faltered not only because of ``difficulties with the unionists'' but because ``there was not the same passionate conviction and firm guidance from the new government in Dublin''. Ahern said:
``Peace was declared unconditionally by the IRA on the public understanding that after a few months and post-Framework Document Sinn Féin would be admitted to talks. The Taoiseach permitted a fatal prevarication by the British using the red herring of decommissioning. He refused to meet the leaders of Northern Nationalism together to discuss the difficulties.''
In an extradordinary outburst Nora Owen said these words of Ahern ``uncannily echoed almost word for word those of Gerry Adams''. But this was hardly the case since the Fianna Fáil leader's speech contained strong condemnation of the IRA and said that ``an unconditional and lasting cessation of IRA violence'' was the quid pro quo for Sinn Féin's ``full participation in democratic life''.
But while Bertie Ahern highlighted the need for inclusive dialogue and a more pro-active approach to the British government from the Dublin government, Nora Owen's attack placed decommissioning upfront. She said Ahern had made a ``dangerous error of judgement - consciously or unconsciously providing excuses for the gunmen and bombers who returned to violence.''
Civil War politics were in the air. On 17 April Fine Gael held a function to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Free State. A `statesmanlike' attitude might have been expected from John Bruton but he simply reverted to vintage Fine Gael type, basically claiming ownership of the 26-County state for his party and attacking Fianna Fáil.
Despite all the things they share in social and economic policy, differences in historical analysis of the state and in present postitions on the Six Countes, still divide Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Since 1973 there has been a tacit agreement between them not to make the national question an issue in general election campaigns. But the peace process has changed all that and for the first time we may see the issue having a key role in the first general election since the IRA ceasefire.
The attack by Fine Gael Justice Minister Nora Owen on Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern shows that her party can still play Civil War politics when they believe it is in their interest. Owen accused Ahern of ``providing excuses for the gunmen and bombers''.
The speech which drew Owen's wrath was made by Bertie Ahern at the Fianna Fáil Easter commemoration in Arbour Hill last Sunday. He said that the vision of peace had faltered not only because of ``difficulties with the unionists'' but because ``there was not the same passionate conviction and firm guidance from the new government in Dublin''. Ahern said:
``Peace was declared unconditionally by the IRA on the public understanding that after a few months and post-Framework Document Sinn Féin would be admitted to talks. The Taoiseach permitted a fatal prevarication by the British using the red herring of decommissioning. He refused to meet the leaders of Northern Nationalism together to discuss the difficulties.''
In an extradordinary outburst Nora Owen said these words of Ahern ``uncannily echoed almost word for word those of Gerry Adams''. But this was hardly the case since the Fianna Fáil leader's speech contained strong condemnation of the IRA and said that ``an unconditional and lasting cessation of IRA violence'' was the quid pro quo for Sinn Féin's ``full participation in democratic life''.
But while Bertie Ahern highlighted the need for inclusive dialogue and a more pro-active approach to the British government from the Dublin government, Nora Owen's attack placed decommissioning upfront. She said Ahern had made a ``dangerous error of judgement - consciously or unconsciously providing excuses for the gunmen and bombers who returned to violence.''
Civil War politics were in the air. On 17 April Fine Gael held a function to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Free State. A `statesmanlike' attitude might have been expected from John Bruton but he simply reverted to vintage Fine Gael type, basically claiming ownership of the 26-County state for his party and attacking Fianna Fáil.
Despite all the things they share in social and economic policy, differences in historical analysis of the state and in present postitions on the Six Countes, still divide Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Since 1973 there has been a tacit agreement between them not to make the national question an issue in general election campaigns. But the peace process has changed all that and for the first time we may see the issue having a key role in the first general election since the IRA ceasefire.