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.

“We recognise there are long-outstanding issues that we are trying to resolve satisfactorily for everybody for the full implementation of the agreement. Both governments are committed to intensively working towards that,” he said.

The two ministers met as part of an ongoing sequence of exchanges between the two governments about efforts to kick-start the Northern Ireland peace process. Mr Murphy conceded that there were very big issues and difficulties to deal with.

“In terms of what we have had to overcome over the last number of years, I believe the will is there amongst all the pro-agreement parties and politicians in Northern Ireland.

“The two governments will do all that is possible to ensure that we arrive at an agreement as soon as possible. It is a question of dealing with the issues that have to be addressed.”

The Secretary of State said yesterday’s meeting was to discuss the issues, and there would be further talks involving both the parties and the governments over the next week ahead of talks between Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Hillsborough, Co Down, on Monday week.

Mr Cowen also had a meeting in Dublin yesterday with senior Sinn Féin figures Martin McGuinness and Gerry Kelly.

Afterwards, Mr McGuinness said the agenda for the exchanges had included policing in Northern Ireland and the need to put an acceptable criminal justice system into place.

He underscored his concern about the refusal of the Ulster Unionists to get involved in discussions, saying:

“It appears to me they don’t want a deal at this time.” In an indication of his frustration with the position of the Unionists, headed by former Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble, Mr McGuinness added:

“I have to say that I am fed up to

the back teeth in talking to British government officials and ministers, who tell me the reason that they can’t implement hugely important aspects of the Good Friday agreement is because David Trimble will walk away from the process.

“I have come to the point where if David Trimble wants to walk away from the process, let him walk away from the process.”