Ahern comments on 'on-the-runs' defy common sense - Ford

12.00.00am GMT Thu 1st Dec 2005

Alliance Party Leader David Ford has said that comments by Bertie Ahern stating that a terrorist amnesty is essential to peace in Northern Ireland are against democracy and against decency.

In response to comments made by the Taoiseach in a debate in the Dáil Éireann, Mr Ford stated: "It simply defies logic to link terrorist amnesties to peace in Northern Ireland. We have at best an imperfect peace, and there is not a shred of evidence to show that amnesties for murderers will improve this situation further.

"What we do have are victims' and human rights groups from right across the political spectrum illustrating clearly how offensive this legislation is to people in Northern Ireland. If people are suggesting we should simply ignore victims in the name of peace, they will never attain real peace.

"As I said when I last met the Secretary of State, both Governments really need to do some serious self-examination. When a pro-Agreement, cross-community party is angry about so many things, they are clearly doing something very wrong.

"It is time both Governments listened to sensible people, not non-sensical platitudes."

ENDS