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Paisley should stay on, Ahern says
Northern Ireland's First Minister Rev Ian Paisley should stay in his job for as long as possible, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said tonight.
Speculation has mounted about the future plans of the 82-year-old Democratic Unionist Party leader since the resignation of his son, Ian Jnr this week.
Mr Ahern said he would like to see Mr Paisley continue in his position for the short-term as he has been very influential in achieving power sharing in Northern Ireland.
He was speaking in Dublin after a bilateral meeting with Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.
He agreed that the Taoiseach and Government had enjoyed a good relationship with Dr Paisley which had been significant in making political progress.
"The DUP, like any other political party has its own internal machinations. It is a robust party and will make its own decisions in due course," Mr Ahern said.
He said there many people in the DUP "well able" to lead the party and did not know if a change of leader would affect the stability of the Assembly.
Questioned by reporters on the same issue, Mr Woodward said the personal legacy of Dr Paisley would be enormous.
"He has led his party into a government, into a shared future that few could have imagined possible just a few years.
"Whoever, one day, should succeed him, they are bound to continue that work too," Mr Woodward said.
Junior Minister Ian Paisley Jnr resigned from office this week over a political lobbying controversy in which he denies any wrongdoing. He was succeeded by his DUP colleague Jeffrey Donaldson.
DUP veterans Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds are the frontrunners to succeed Mr Paisley if he stands down.
Mr Woodward also said that meeting the May deadline for devolving policing and justice powers was a decision for the political parties.
The two politicians also discussed this summer's Orange marching season and last year's murder of Paul Quinn.
© 2008 ireland.com
