The Taoiseach has effectively ruled out substantive progress in talks on the Northern peace process until late summer, because of the local and European elections and the marching season.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil that there is "not a hope" of resolving issues before the May 5th deadline. He pointed out that meetings related to the peace process could not be held within 30 days of the elections, on June 11th.
However, he did say that "progress could be made" to devise a "process that can get us back into engagement in late August, early September". Answering a range of questions on the North, the Taoiseach said that "effectively May 5th will be the last day of the review talks".
"Some people say we can rush over a few days and resolve the issues, but there is not a hope of that. Given the state of mind of all the parties, it is not possible".
He believed there could be some advance in setting up a process for the talks later. "Summer in the Northern Ireland political system tends to be a little earlier than in ours. Once you hit the beginning of July, that is it - the week before Drumcree Sunday and July 12th."
Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte asked if the Taoiseach agreed with former Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell. "that all this bashing of Sinn Fein is counterproductive".
The Taoiseach said he agreed with Deputy O'Donnell that "if we could find the solution to policing it would provide the vehicle to resolve the issue of paramilitarism". He said: "I would be the happiest person in the world if we could stop commenting about all these issues and make progress because one sounds like a long-playing record saying the same things over and over again", but "there is no way around that when progress is not made".
Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny referred to the comments by the Minister for Justice that senior elements in Sinn Féin had been involved in criminality in Dublin port.
He said the Independent Monitoring Commission's report had said that senior politicians in the PUP and Sinn Fein had an influence on their paramilitary associates. "If we are to have a serious change before the next IMC report senior politicians must use their influence."
Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Féin's leader in the Dáil, wanted to assure the Taoiseach, Mr Kenny and other TDs that there were "no such links" between Sinn Féin and criminal elements in this jurisdiction.
