North elections to go ahead in March

The Irish and British governments yesterday both looked forward to new Northern Ireland Assembly elections going ahead on schedule in May after a series of political exchanges in Dublin.

North Secretary Paul Murphy, who held discussions with Minister for Foreign Brian Cowen, said: “The elections are there in May as part of the Good Friday Agreement, and we have no plans to change that.”

Mr Cowen said: “Obviously we want to make sure these elections are held as scheduled and the work we are involved in is to ensure the institutions are up and running well in time for those elections, so that the pro-agreement parties can go to the people with confidence.