Ahern and Blair prepare for North talks

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is expected to meet British prime minister Tony Blair in Chequers tomorrow as both prepare for the crucial two months of talks that may deliver a lasting political settlement for the North of Ireland.

Mr Ahern has arranged to travel to the prime minister’s official country residence.

It will come two days after Mr Blair’s crucial meeting today with Democratic Unionist Party leader, Dr Ian Paisley in London.

Tomorrow’s meeting will allow Mr Ahern and Mr Blair to assess the position and approach of the DUP ahead of the October talks.

The Irish Examiner understands that the two leaders will also continue work on the so-called ‘Plan B’, the partnership arrangement for governing the North that will come into being in the event of no settlement being reached by the November 24 deadline.

Details of this contingency plan will remain secret and will only be revealed to the parties if there is no deal in September.

The next four weeks will be a crucial period for this effort to restore devolution to the North. The key event will be the publication of the Independent Monitoring Commission’s report on paramilitary activity.

If the report concludes that the IRA have ceased all activities, including criminality, surveillance and punishment or vigilante attacks, it is expected to pave the way for comprehensive all-party talks.

The timing and venue have yet to be decided but they are expected to happen over three days in St Andrews in Scotland in the week following the publication of the IMC report.