The Taoiseach and the British prime minister are to spearhead an intensive round of talks with Northern Ireland Assembly parties to secure the return of devolution, it was confirmed today.
DUP leader Ian Paisley
Northern Secretary Peter Hain confirmed the move - to take place before the summer break - as he also announced plans for an Assembly committee on the restoration of devolution.
Mr Hain revealed that he had asked the Stormont Assembly's Speaker, Eileen Bell, to convene the first meeting of the committee on June 6th to prepare for the talks involving him, Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern.
Mr Hain said: "I hope that this committee will use the month of June productively to scope the work that needs to be done in preparation for government, before the prime minister, the Taoiseach, Dermot Ahern and I return to Stormont for intensive talks with the parties before the summer break.
"At that meeting we need to set a clear timeline for addressing these issues."
The move followed the failure of Assembly members on Monday to elect a First and Deputy First Minister to head a future power sharing administration at Stormont.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams nominated his party colleague Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister and Democratic Unionist Party leader the Rev Ian Paisley as First Minister.
But Dr Paisley refused to accept the nomination. Assembly members have until November 24th to try to elect an inclusive multi-party government at Stormont featuring the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP.
There had been concerns earlier in the week that the DUP would not participate in a restoration of devolution committee that the UUP had championed.
The new committee on restoring devolution will have up to three members from each of the four parties who would make up a devolved government. The cross-community Alliance Party will be entitled to up to two seats.
Stormont sources said today at this stage it was believed Mr Blair and Mr Ahern would hold talks with the Northern Ireland Assembly members on June 26th and 27th - just weeks before the crucial summer marching season.
The committee is expected to look at issues such as the pledge of office for ministers and support for the police by anyone holding office, the relationship between the Assembly and any future power-sharing executive, the relationship between the Executive and north-south institutions.
Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness responded cautiously. "Sinn Féin have made it clear that the only reason we are taking part in the Hain Assembly is to deliver a power-sharing executive", he said.
"We are not interested in a talking shop. Sinn Féin will not be participating in a talking shop."
Dr Paisley today vowed to study the British government's proposal carefully.
But he pointed out that London had rejected the committee model promoted by the UUP. "As I indicated in the House of Commons yesterday the establishment of a negotiations committee at Stormont would compete with and interfere in the negotiation framework between the parties and the Prime Minister," the DUP leader said.
PA
