Hain rules out Irish-British rule in North

NORTH Secretary Peter Hain last night denied there was any prospect of the British and Irish Governments jointly ruling Northern Ireland in the event of no power-sharing government at Stormont.

As the British Government prepared to introduce an emergency bill on Thursday to facilitate efforts to revive power sharing this year, he said there were no plans for joint authority from London and Dublin.

Mr Hain said: "There is absolutely no question of joint authority or joint government at all.