North leaders dismiss southern role row

The North’s political leaders have dismissed controversy over the Irish Government’s role in new Northern Ireland peace talks as a frenzied "much ado about nothing".

Both Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness played down reported tension among some unionists about Dublin’s part in resolving issues on parades, flags and the past.

Speaking at the latest North South Ministerial Council, First Minister and Democratic Unionist leader Mr Robinson said there was no issue as far as unionists were concerned.

“Let’s not talk ourselves out of talks.”

Both the British and Irish governments earlier this week announced fresh round-table negotiations to resolve outstanding issues.

All the Stormont parties are expected to take part, but there has been dissent from the smaller Ulster Unionist Party about Dublin having a say in “internal” matters.

However, Mr Robinson pointed to a three-stranded approach, first advocated by former SDLP leader John Hume, as a model that had worked in the past.

This allows for Stormont parties to hammer out a deal on Northern Ireland issues with the British government, engage with Dublin on cross-border matters as well as a third strand of talks towards agreement between London and Dublin.

“I can’t force Martin [McGuinness] to talk or not talk to someone and he can’t do that to me either,” said Mr Robinson.

Sinn Féin’s Deputy First Minister Mr McGuinness said UUP leader Mike Nesbitt had “unforgivably” failed to realise that the Irish Government was present at all recent peace deals.

“As far as I’m concerned this is much ado about nothing,” he said.

Earlier this week, Mr Nesbitt said his party was putting the Secretary of State Theresa Villiers “on notice” that there would be no official role for any foreign government in the internal affairs of the North.

Separately, Mr Robinson commended the Government for taking “hard decisions” that he said had led to a turnaround in the Republic’s economy.