DUP’s Protocol wish list ‘substantially’ met - Bertie Ahern

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said a refusal by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to return to Stormont would create a “very difficult position” and that the European Union would be unlikely to negotiate any further changes to Northern Ireland trade arrangements.

As the DUP continues to pore over the Windsor Framework, Mr Ahern suggested it was a final opportunity to reach consensus.

“I cannot see the European Union coming back [to negotiations]. They’ve put months of effort into this; their best brain power,” he said on Thursday.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak has also invested considerable time, he said, but given the amount of issues he is contending with elsewhere, he could not continue to do so – neither could the EU given, among other considerations, the war in Ukraine.

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On Wednesday, Sinn Féin signalled its preparations to return to the power sharing Government. All eyes are now firmly on what the DUP will ultimately do regarding last week’s deal struck by the EU and UK on trade.

Mr Ahern said the seven tests set out by the DUP on any new proposals had been substantially completed and that its leader Jeffrey Donaldson could not realistically expect all seven to be met in their totality.

“It’s obvious in any political party that you try to carry your people with you,” he said. “If there are people who have extreme views, well you try to convince them. I don’t want to see the DUP split so I’d rather see them being able to collectively move forward.”

Mr Ahern was speaking after a ceremony conferring him with an honorary doctorate at Dublin City University (DCU) on Thursday.

Professor Monica McWilliams, a signatory to the Belfast Agreement representing the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition, also received an honorary doctorate at a ceremony reflecting on the importance of the peace process to the island.

Prof McWilliams welcomed the deal arrived at last week but acknowledged the positive development had been tainted by the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Co Tyrone.

“I am working now [as] hard today as I was [in the past] to give some kind of future to those young people that doesn’t involve the shooting of police officers,” she said. “And to make sure that new recruits to the police feel safe and they’re not looking over their shoulders.”

Thursday’s ceremony was briefly interrupted by three student protesters, who said they were members of the Connolly Youth Movement, objecting to Mr Ahern’s award.

Separately, the former taoiseach criticised ongoing speculation regarding his potential run for the presidency, saying it was disrespectful to President Michael D Higgins.

That speculation was stoked by Mr Ahern’s recent return to Fianna Fáil after a 10-year hiatus.

Addressing questions after the ceremony, he said he would not consider any possible candidacy for “several years”.

“It’s not my fault if people associated joining one of thousands of [Fianna Fáil] cumanns with what you are going to do next,” he said.

“I quite frankly find it disrespectful and uncomfortable that I’m serving a President on the Council of State and people are talking about who should take over.

“What in the name of God are we talking about in early 2023? I just think it’s disrespectful to our excellent President.”