The Government is set to cave in to Opposition pressure to introduce a short Bill to cover prisoner releases under the Belfast Agreement. Government sources signalled last night that the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will bring forward legislation before the end of June even though he has been advised by the Department of Justice that it is not necessary. "His priority is to implement to the letter the Belfast Agreement", the sources said.
The change of heart was greeted with some surprise in political circles last night since the Taoiseach's Office had consulted with the main Opposition leaders throughout yesterday, indicating that the release of prisoners over two years was covered by the Offences Against the State Act and the Criminal Justice Bill.
Opposition leaders have strongly pressed the Taoiseach in recent days to bring forward a new Bill on the release of prisoners, even for political reasons.
The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, appealed for the Government to stick to the spirit and the letter of the agreement which had been put to the people in the recent referendum.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, stressed that prisoner releases had to be grounded in the rule of stated law.
The Belfast Agreement stated that "the Governments will seek to enact the appropriate legislation to give effect to these (prisoners) arrangements by the end of June 1998".
Government sources believe that a short consolidating Bill can be drafted quickly to meet the end of month deadline.
Meanwhile, a crucial vote is due in House of Commons today on corresponding British legislation. The Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, sought to reassure wary Conservative MPs and Ulster Unionists last night that the decommissioning of terrorist arms remained an "essential part" of the Belfast Agreement.
