The politics of the last statement

Some of the most striking quotes of the past few days.

I don’t read the IRA statement in a negative fashion. Quite frankly, they are saying what is a fact: that negotiations have broken down, that everything is off the table.

- Bertie Ahern, speaking on Wednesday night

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The two governments are trying to play down the importance of our statement because they are making a mess of the peace process. Do not underestimate the seriousness of the situation.

- A Provisional IRA source, Thursday evening

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We never have commented for 30 years on IRA statements and we are not going to now.

- Bertie Ahern, speaking on Thursday night

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We have told them both that confrontation is not the way forward. Otherwise the peace process could be as transient as [Mr Blair’s time] in Downing Street.

- Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams

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If the two governments are going down a road of confrontation and criminalisation of republicans they are playing a very dangerous game.

- Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly

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The truth is that Sinn Féin, no matter how many seats they might win, won’t come within an ass’s roar of power north or south of the border until the IRA is off the pitch.

- Advisor to Dublin govt, Senator Martin Mansergh

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Not everything is about getting into power. Securing the peace process should be the priority and party politics have to come second.

- Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams

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This will be another attempt to bargain with the government in order to take the pressure off them. These Provo words of excuse will fool no-one.

- DUP leader Ian Paisley

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“[It] is a disgrace. I only recognise one army in this country. I don’t recognise the Provisional IRA... They are not going to blackmail the Government.

- Tanaiste Mary Harney

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An affront to Irish people, north and south. There is one Oglaigh na hEireann in this country and that is the Irish Army.

- Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny on Thursday morning

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The latest IRA statement is tantamount to a threat against the Irish people and our State.

- Enda Kenny on Thursday evening

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.. a not very-thinly-veiled threat from the IRA when, it appears, they felt their first statement was not received with due respect and deference.

- Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte, on Thursday evening

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The IRA is coming close to saying ‘don’t dare criticise us or question us - or the peace process gets it’

- SDLP leader Mark Durkan

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We are now on a unfortunate round of game playing with accusations, blame and counter-blame clogging the airwaves.

- Trevor Sargent, Green Party leader

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We are clear the IRA has the capacity, it has the capability, but I don’t think they have the intent to go back to war or armed struggle. We continue to monitor that daily.

- PSNI chief High Orde

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The obstacle now to a lasting and durable settlement in Northern Ireland is the continuing paramilitary activity and criminal activity of the IRA... Everybody gets on the democratic bus and goes forward on that track or not.

- British Prime Minister Tony Blair

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Tony Blair’s comments that the only obstacle to a comprehensive agreement was the IRA were silly because this is patently not the case.

- Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness

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The statement on February 2nd by the Provisional IRA that it is withdrawing its offer to disarm is unwelcome

- a US State Department spokesman

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We have only just had the inauguration, a reshuffle and the State of the Union address from the President.. other things have been on the agenda.

- a Whitehouse official on the annual St Patrick’s Day gathering

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My clear impression is that the government is looking at interim measures which fall short of devolving powers. That could mean some role where the assembly would scrutinise and advise.

- DUP’s Peter Robinson

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It is time for calmness, it is nearly the politics of the last statement at the moment but we really need to keep cool heads and try to work our way out of these difficulties.

- Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern

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About time

- Grassroots Republican

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