Referendum not needed on Northern deal, says Hain

A REFERENDUM may not be needed in the South to implement the agreement reached between the Northern parties at St Andrews in Scotland, the Northern Secretary Peter Hain indicated yesterday.

Mr Hain also strongly hinted that the likelier option within the North will be elections next summer because both Sinn Féin and the DUP favour this.

Mr Hain was addressing the first meeting of the British Irish Inter-Parliamentary body to be held in Belfast.