A crucial meeting of Northern Ireland’s cabinet scheduled for tomorrow looks set to be cancelled.
A public row between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) broke out tonight at the same time as they are involved in private talks to end their long-running dispute.
Meanwhile there was speculation that unionist and nationalist cabinet members may meet without Sinn Fein ministers tomorrow if the planned session of the full Executive does not go ahead.
Northern Ireland’s government ministers have not met since June as a result of the stand-off between the DUP and Sinn Fein over the transfer of policing and Justice powers to Stormont.
Republicans are frustrated at the unionist delay in introducing the powers and have effectively blocked Executive meetings as a result.
Tonight Sinn Fein’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness wrote to the DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson seeking support for the emergency passage of fuel poverty measures if tomorrow’s cabinet meeting is cancelled.
But within minutes a letter emerged from Mr Robinson who dismissed the plan as being a breach of procedures.
“I welcome your recognition that this issue should be given urgent consideration and merits wider Executive discussion,” said Mr Robinson.
“It is therefore essential that tomorrow’s scheduled meeting proceeds as planned.”
Ulster Unionist leader and Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey, meanwhile, signalled that if the cabinet meeting was called off he would be open to holding a ministerial meeting without Sinn Fein.
Sir Reg said he already planned to hold talks with party colleague and Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and the nationalist SDLP’s Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie in defiance of the continuing deadlock.
“We are tired of being held to ransom because of a battle we are not involved in,” he said. “Our concern is for the people.”
Sir Reg said, however, such talks were no substitute for a cabinet meeting.
The DUP and Sinn Fein are holding further talks. Yesterday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown used a speech at Stormont to tell politicians they must agree a date for the transfer of the powers from Westminster, in line with the St Andrew’s Agreement of 2006.
Mr Brown’s speech was seen as an attempt to increase pressure on the DUP, but the party quickly dismissed the prime minister’s call.
Mr Robinson today said: “There is a legal requirement on us to have a properly functioning Executive.... I am not going to start issuing threats of what might happen, but I think nobody should be underestimating the importance of having an Executive meeting.”
Mr McGuinness said: “Gordon Brown laid it on the line yesterday that he expects everybody to fulfil their obligations under the St Andrew’s Agreement.
“We have done that. I think others need to do the same.”
The agreement set May this year as a target date for devolution but the DUP has said there is not sufficient public support for the move.
Tomorrow will also see the announcement of the result of a by-election involving both parties for a seat on Fermanagh District Council.
The election has attracted additional attention after the DUP opted to put up government minister Arlene Foster.
Sinn Fein and the DUP are divided on a series of issues including education reform, the introduction of an Irish language act and the future of the Maze prison site.
Unionist hard-liners are urging the DUP to prevent republicans ever having responsibility for policing and justice in Northern Ireland.
In August the DUP and Sinn Fein agreed on the format of any new justice ministry, announcing it will be a single post rather than a joint office.
The parties have decided someone outside their ranks should hold the post and today the Alliance Party, which had been touted as a possible candidate, appeared to soften its earlier refusal to take the job.
Alliance Party leader David Ford said: “No politician with any wit ever says never.”
But Mr Ford said the priority should be to tackle bread and butter issues.
PA