THERE is only a difference of emphasis and language between the Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fail on Northern Ireland, the PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, claimed yesterday.
She was commenting on the remarks by the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, on RTE's The Politics Programme. Mr Ahern appeared to indicate that he would talk to Sinn Fein as soon as he became Taoiseach.
"You'll have to ask him but as I understand it he was talking in the context of a ceasefire," Ms Harney said.
"He has made it very clear during the past number of months that he wants to see an IRA ceasefire, and when there is a ceasefire Sinn Fein can be brought into the political process.
Ms Harney, speaking at a press conference in Dublin to introduce 27 of the party's 30 candidates in the general election, reiterated the party's main priorities of radical tax reform, zero tolerance on crime and the creation of additional prison spaces.
On Mr Ahern's remarks about the North, she stressed that "there is a difference of emphasis and a difference of language. There hasn't been a division in relation to Northern Ireland in Dail Eireann for some considerable time.
She added: "That has always been the position of the Irish Government and I don't believe any new Irish government will change that procedure."
The party's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Des O'Malley spelt out the party's position when he said that "we in government do not wish to meet Sinn Fein unless and until there is a ceasefire".
Ms Harney said: "Fianna Fail supported the existing Government strategy in relation to Sinn Fein very enthusiastically when it was adopted in February 1996 when the IRA cease fire broke down.
"In several comments since then that has remained the Fianna Fail position and it's my understanding of the Fianna Fail position that they will meet Sinn Fein when they have a ceasefire.
"I don't believe there is a change, but clearly you will have to speak to Fianna Fail about that," she said.
Regarding the party's campaign and candidates, Ms Harney said: "It is a very gender balanced ticket, 15 males and 12 female candidates, and in terms of the number of female candidates that puts us on a par with even the much larger parties and I'm very proud that is the case.
"They bring with them huge qualities to Irish politics. They are people of substance, they are people determined to make a difference. They are people who want to win," she said.
She stressed the party's policy of zero tolerance and said it was about enforcing laws against the white collar criminals, too.
"In fact it should begin by enforcing laws against the white collar criminal. Zero tolerance has worked in other countries and I believe that as a society we have been quite lawless.
She said the current government was stable only because Fine Gael capitulated on everything. Labour and Democratic Left had blocked a decision on the future of the TSB and if the Government could not make a decision on a "relatively small matter how can they be decisive on more important complex issues?"
