 Bertie Ahern said he wants to reassure unionists |
Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern has said he wants to assure unionists there is no threat to their constitutional position from his part of Ireland. The taoiseach was speaking at his party's annual Wolfe Tone commemoration in County Kildare.
He said loyalists needed space, encouragement and support to move beyond their recent past.
Mr Ahern said the remarks were aimed at those within loyalism who were sincere about moving away from violence.
"We do hope they will take note of what has been said because we were taking today's opportunity to speak directly to them," Mr Ahern said.
"We see them as people who are prepared to try to change in their community."
At the weekend the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the Ulster Voluteer Force, said it would "work in partnership with all those committed to transforming loyalist communities".
Wolfe Tone, a Dublin Protestant, was one of the founders of the United Irishmen in the 18th century.
He was captured and sentenced to death after a failed uprising against British rule in 1798 but committed suicide in his prison cell.
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