| Hain to make final push for devolution
 NORTHERN
Secretary Peter Hain will hold new talks in Belfast this week as a two-week
countdown begins to the deadline for restoring power sharing.
Mr Hain is set to meet Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams and Martin
McGuinness at Stormont to have discussions which will cover the issue
of whether the Democratic Unionists are prepared to agree to a coalition
government with Republicans by March 26.
It has been speculated that DUP leader Ian Paisley principal victor
in last week’s Assembly elections is intent on making an historic
pact with Sinn Féin.
Almost all politicians and observers believe that the DUP leader, triumphant
after his party’s poll-topping performance, will move to form a
cross-community government involving Sinn Féin.
In the poll the DUP won 36 seats with Sinn Féin taking 28, the
Ulster Unionists 18 and the SDLP 16.
A number of meetings will take place this week in order to broker a deal.
Mr Paisley and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are expected to meet
in London on Wednesday.
His deputy leader Peter Robinson and son Ian Paisley Jr are also due to
meet with representatives from Chancellor Gordon Brown’s office
in Belfast.
Although Dublin and London have warned that March 26 is an unbreakable
deadline no-one is sure whether Mr Paisley will comply with the timetable.
He may take more time partly to demonstrate his pivotal position but
mostly for the sake of party unity.
Spelling out the British Government’s determination Mr Hain declared:
“I’m optimistic that we can achieve a working government on
March 26 but it’s a very stark choice for them get into power or
shut up shop.
“If there is not to be devolution on March 26 then this generation
of MLAs will have wasted a golden opportunity to take over the reins of
power and will have thrown themselves into the political wilderness.”NORTHERN
Secretary Peter Hain will hold new talks in Belfast this week as a two-week
countdown begins to the deadline for restoring power sharing.
Mr Hain is set to meet Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams and Martin
McGuinness at Stormont to have discussions which will cover the issue
of whether the Democratic Unionists are prepared to agree to a coalition
government with Republicans by March 26.
It has been speculated that DUP leader Ian Paisley principal victor
in last week’s Assembly elections is intent on making an historic
pact with Sinn Féin.
Almost all politicians and observers believe that the DUP leader, triumphant
after his party’s poll-topping performance, will move to form a
cross-community government involving Sinn Féin.
In the poll the DUP won 36 seats with Sinn Féin taking 28, the
Ulster Unionists 18 and the SDLP 16.
A number of meetings will take place this week in order to broker a deal.
Mr Paisley and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are expected to meet
in London on Wednesday.
His deputy leader Peter Robinson and son Ian Paisley Jr are also due to
meet with representatives from Chancellor Gordon Brown’s office
in Belfast.
Although Dublin and London have warned that March 26 is an unbreakable
deadline no-one is sure whether Mr Paisley will comply with the timetable.
He may take more time partly to demonstrate his pivotal position but
mostly for the sake of party unity.
Spelling out the British Government’s determination Mr Hain declared:
“I’m optimistic that we can achieve a working government on
March 26 but it’s a very stark choice for them get into power or
shut up shop.
“If there is not to be devolution on March 26 then this generation
of MLAs will have wasted a golden opportunity to take over the reins of
power and will have thrown themselves into the political wilderness.”
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