(C) SINN FEIN CLAIMS IRA RESPONSE IMMINENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000677 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINS EI NIPP SUBJECT: (C) SINN FEIN CLAIMS IRA RESPONSE IMMINENT Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Mary E. Daly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Rita O'Hare requested an appointment with Pol Chief today on an urgent basis. O'Hare said the IRA response to Gerry Adams' April call on them to pursue their goals through solely political means is coming very soon, perhaps within two weeks. According to O'Hare, the IRA leadership is 100 percent behind Gerry Adams' call. However, discussions within the IRA have been difficult. There has been resistance at lower levels and there may well be a rump that will not go along. That said, O'Hare said she expects the IRA response to be the clear, unambiguous statement the US, UK and Irish Governments have said they want to hear. ¶2. (C) Once the statement is released it would be helpful, according to O'Hare, if the three governments responded positively and if the political process is moved forward on an inclusive basis. She repeatedly stressed the critical role of the USG as an honest broker and specifically asked for US support of the peace process, particularly of policing. O'Hare stressed the importance of there being no vacuum left when the IRA leaves the scene. ¶3. (C) She indicated that she and other Sinn Fein officials would likely apply for US visas in order to be in the US around the time of the IRA announcement. She also mentioned that some US Congressman might travel to Northern Ireland following such announcement. KENNY