Trimble threatens to boycott all-party talks

UUP leader David Trimble has threatened to boycott all-party talks because of the Government's decision to continue the work of cross-border bodies while the North's institutions are suspended.

Two weeks ago, the Government passed legislation allowing for the six bodies set up under the Good Friday Agreement to continue their work while the Assembly and Executive are in suspension.

The legislation allowed Irish ministers to meet their Northern counterparts to make joint decisions in areas governed by the cross-border organisations.

The Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats has defended the legislation on the grounds that nationalists in the North are only adequately represented when the Assembly and Executive are in operation.

While these institutions are suspended, it said, Ireland has a responsibility to represent Northern nationalists.

However, Mr Trimble believes this move is not part of the Good Friday Agreement.

He said the British Ambassador in Dublin and Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen have effectively negotiated a new international agreement without consulting unionists.

Speaking after talks with Northern Secretary Paul Murphy today, the UUP leader described the legislation as a 'shoddy little piece of paper' and said the Good Friday Agreement is not Dublin's to mess about with.