Irish Taoiseach lauds Northern Ireland's Ian Paisley

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000122

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EI
SUBJECT: Irish Taoiseach lauds Northern Ireland's Ian Paisley

REF: BELFAST 36


1. (U) In the wake of Northern Ireland Assembly First Minister Ian
Paisley's surprise announcement that he would stand down as First
Minister in May 2008, Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern
released a statement on March 4 paying tribute to Paisley, referring
to him as a giant figure in the history of Ireland. Ahern spoke of
how he valued his practical and friendly working relationship with
Paisley and of his respect for Paisley as a man who worked
tirelessly for the people he represented and who had sincerely done
what he believed was right. Ahern said that the leadership Paisley
had shown in recent years meant that future generations of Irish
people, North and South, would live in a peace and prosperity that
previous generations could only dream of.


2. (U) On March 5, speaking before the Dail (the lower house of the
Irish parliament),Ahern reiterated his praise, calling on Members
of the Dail to reflect on the huge courage and leadership Paisley
showed in recent years and the legacy of peace and hope that he will
leave for future generations.


3. (SBU) In a subsequent conversation with Rita O'Hare, Sinn Fein's
General Secretary, O'Hare told POLOFF that she respected Paisley as
a man of conviction and of his word. She expressed concern that a
leadership struggle within the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) might
unsettle operations of the Northern Ireland Assembly Executive and
complicate negotiations for the devolution of policing and justice.
She indicated that Finance Minister Peter Robinson, if chosen as the
next First Minister by the DUP, would be a DUP leader with whom Sinn
Fein could easily work.

FOLEY