27 January 2006
Tony Blair has urged that efforts to restore Northern Ireland’s assembly must make significant progress during 2006.
He was speaking after a summit with Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin.
The two leaders were in agreement about the need to move forward as the province faces a "decisive year".
Devolution has been suspended in Northern Ireland since spying allegations in October 2002.
Mr Blair said:
"Whilst stalemate continues actually under the surface there are all those currents of instability present when there is not a true forceful direction moving the process forward.
"We should be under any illusion at all, neither about how difficult it is but also how important it is to get to the point where we can set out arrangements and a time line for getting the institutions up and running again”.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain is to lead talks with the Irish Foreign Minister on February 6.
While in Dublin, the PM was also asked about the victory for Hamas in the Palestinian elections. He said:
"We recognise the mandate from Hamas, because the people have spoken…but I think it is also important for Hamas to understand that there comes a point, and the point is now, following that strong showing, where they have to decide between a path of democracy, or a path of violence".
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