The North's First Minister, Peter Robinson, today offered Sinn Féin an open agenda for tomorrow’s scheduled meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive to lift the crisis threatening the political process.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader also said he is planning to hold talks with Taoiseach Brian Cowen and has recently met Secretary of State Shaun Woodward for talks.
His comments came after Sinn Féin said their talks with the DUP had failed to settle the dispute over the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.
Last night Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said the DUP has failed to satisfy republicans that they were in favour of partnership government and would deal with policies important to nationalist voters.
But today Mr Robinson said: “The only reasons that they have publicly given for the Executive not meeting are that the agenda is in some way being constrained.
“I am removing that fig leaf. I am saying we can have an open agenda, we can deal with whatever issues, including policing and justice which can be raised at the Executive table if they wish.”
The Northern Executive has not meant since June as a result of the dispute between the two parties.
Mr McGuinness said he believed the Executive meeting planned for tomorrow was now to go ahead.
The other two parties in the coalition government - the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP - have joined the DUP in calling for a meeting to be held to deal with bread-and-butter issues while the dispute over policing is settled.
PA