st andrews talks

[Herbie von Smalls]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6042720.stm

 

DUP accused of being unrealistic

 

UUP leader Sir Reg Empey has accused the DUP of setting unrealistic demands, as talks to reach a deal for restoring devolution to NI continue in Scotland.

DUP leader Ian Paisley said the IRA must hand back any "ill-gotten gains" for Sinn Fein to enter government.

 

Asked about this, Sir Reg said: "We all seek perfection but we have to be realistic about what is achievable.

 

"You can raise the bar as far as you like, but it comes down to whether you want to solve the problem."

 

He was speaking on the second of three days of intensive multi-party talks at St Andrews in Scotland, opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

 

Mr Blair's official spokesman said on Thursday that the two premiers may put proposals to the Northern Ireland parties for achieving devolution if the politicians fail to reach agreement on power-sharing and policing.

 

He said it was clear the DUP and Sinn Fein wanted to resolve the issues but their caution about the other side could prevent them signing off on an agreement.

 

"If necessary that may mean the two governments calling it by tomorrow lunchtime," he said.

 

"If necessary we are prepared to do that. We will put forward our best guess as to what a way forward is - the parties then would have to decide their responses to that."

 

The two premiers were expected to concentrate on the topic of policing during Thursday's talks.

 

Other ministers will deal with issues related to the devolution of justice, parades, equality, human rights and changes to the Stormont rules.

 

On Friday, it is believed that the talks may deal with questions concerning the past and victims.

 

The negotiations are due to end at noon on Friday.

 

The UK and Irish governments have given the parties until 24 November to reach a deal on power-sharing, otherwise the assembly may be put into cold storage.

 

 

Mr Blair said the talks were a "one-off opportunity" to build a lasting future for the province.

 

The talks in Scotland come a week after the body monitoring paramilitary activity said the IRA had changed radically and some of its most important structures had been dismantled.

 

Mr Blair said at that time the IRA's campaign was over and there was a "unique opportunity" to reach a final settlement.

 

 

The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October 2002 amid allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont.

 

The court case that followed collapsed and one of those charged, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent.

 

Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since.

 

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ever get the feeling that paisley's not wholly committed to ending the sectarian divide? man of god, eh?

[Ostrich Man]

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[Coyler]

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