(13 Nov 1997) English/Nat
The leader of the political wing of the I-R-A, Gerry Adams addressed the foreign affairs committee of France's National Assembly in Paris on Wednesday.
In his speech he said the Northern Ireland peace process was not working because the pro-British Unionists still felt they had little to gain.
Later at a press conference he admitted he was disappointed about reports of I-R-A defections, but blamed British policy for causing the divisions.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams visited Paris on Wednesday for a speech to the members of the French National Assembly (lower house).
Adams' eight-hour visit is going ahead amid protests to the French Embassy in London by the ultra-unionist Reverend Ian Paisley, who described it as "disgraceful."
In his speech Adams said the multi-party peace talks were faltering because the Unionists still felt they had little to gain.
Republicans want Northern Ireland to become part of Ireland against the wishes of the Protestant, pro-British majority.
But Sinn Fein and the I-R-A are having their own problems at the moment.
Up to a dozen members of the I-R-A - some of them reportedly very senior - have resigned.
They were said to be dissatisfied with the way the talks were going and unhappy with the way Sinn Fein was handling the Republican's cause
But Sinn Fein is playing down the resignations.
SOUNDBITE:
"I don't know how many members of the I-R-A, but the I-R-A itself said a small number, and I think the I-R-A has credibility and has a cohesion and has a track record on these issues of credibility. It's actually a matter of some bemusement to some Republicans that the C-L-M-C which is the Combined Loyalist Military Command has collapsed without any similar focus upon that. So I think we need to get things into proportion, I think what's different this time and I've never been reluctant to say this is that the people who left Sinn Fein were prepared to be public about it which has not only annoyed all the Republicans, but is quite unique in the way that Republicans usually work and I've made it clear that while I'm disappointed that people have left, I think we have to go on."
SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein President
There are reports that one of those who resigned was the quartermaster general - the man in charge of the I-R-A arsenal.
Now there are fears that he and others could join another Republican paramilitary organisation such as the Continuity Army Council and start another bombing campaign.
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