North deal unlikely as IRA photo remains sticking point

Attempts to revive power-sharing in the North have reached an impasse over the verification of IRA decommissioning.

The Taoiseach Mr Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke by phone this evening in a last-ditch attempt to find a compromise formula but officials from both governments appear resigned to another deadline slipping away without agreement.

Nonetheless, they will press ahead with their scheduled visit to Northern Ireland tomorrow where they will publicly unveil their blueprint for a return to power-sharing.

Mr Blair has been in contact with the DUP, and Mr Ahern has stayed in contact with Sinn Fein, as the dispute over whether decommissioning should be accompanied photographic verification threatens to stall plans to have deal secured by tomorrow.

Talks are continuing tonight but comments by Sinn Fein leader Mr Gerry Adams earlier this evening indicate that Republicans consider the photograph issue an exercise in humiliation as required by DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley.

Mr Adams emerged from a meeting that ran two hours past schedule at around 6 p.m. this evening with the message that his party was ready to sign up to the two governments' proposals but did not believe the IRA could accept the DUPs demand.

"I believe that Sinn Féin can say yes to the proposed political package, and I have conveyed this in writing to the Taoiseach and to the British Prime Minister," he said.

"There has been a singular focus in the course of all of this, particularly on by the DUP, on the issue of silent IRA arms," Mr Adams said. "Resolving this issue of arms is a matter for the IICD.

"I recognise some unionists do have genuine concerns about verification of arms beyond use. But Ian Paisley has to recognise also that the IRA will not ... submit to a process of humiliation."

Dr Paisley met Mr Blair in Downing Street yesterday. Following the talks, he insisted Northern Ireland had to be "free from the scourge of terrorism" and that the IRA must hand in its weapons before a deal was reached.

The DUP has not yet formally responded to the proposals.

It now seems unlikely that a last-minute compromise will be achieved but late last night sources in both governments were mooting the possibility that efforts to resolve the final outstanding issue a short cooling-off period.

Earlier in the Dail, Mr Ahern warned the opportunity to strike a deal would "not come around again for some considerable time". It was expected that efforts would not resume until after the British general election expected in May 2006.