Bertie Ahern warns against reform talks on Good Friday agreement

Concerns starting debate would give unionists further excuse to continue boycott of devolved government

Bertie Ahern, one of the architects of the Good Friday agreement, has urged politicians “not to fall into the trap” of starting a debate about reforms to the historic Northern Ireland peace deal.

Speaking at a session of the British-Irish parliamentary assembly, sitting in Stormont for one day, the former taoiseach implied that to open a debate now would give unionists a further excuse to continue their boycott of devolved government, with “fatal” consequences for power sharing.