The Taoiseach said the republican movement should make it clear that there was a permanent end to paramilitary violence. Mr Ahern was replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, who said the united republican movement, Sinn Fein and the IRA together, should agree that the war was over.
"Maybe it does not matter an awful lot if the war is over," he said. "The leadership of the republican movement, whoever and wherever they are, should say it, and then I think that would be of great benefit."
The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said the No campaign in the North argued that the Union had been weakened. He asked Mr Ahern to take the opportunity formally between now and May 22nd to say to the unionist community that the Union with Britain was secure for such time as it wished it to be secure. He appreciated that it might be difficult for the leader of Fianna Fail to do so.
Mr Quinn suggested this might redress some of the undoubted damage done by the displays of triumphalism observed at the Sinn Fein Ardfheis and the manner in which it was reported.
Mr Ahern said while what had happened last Sunday was a pity, historic decisions had been made. In the reformulation of Articles 2 and 3, there was a clear recognition accepted by all the parties of the principle of consent.
He said decommissioning was not as big an issue with people in the North as some had argued. People wanted to see a clear statement that the agreement on decommissioning would be followed through and that those involved would co-operate with the structures which were in place.