UK 'could block Assembly recall'

The British government has the power to block the recall of the Northern Ireland Assembly after an election, it emerged tonight.

As British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern prepared to release make-or-break proposals next week on the future of the peace process, Northern Ireland Office officials gave their clearest signal yet that they could allow the Assembly election to take place while the institution was suspended.

Officials confirmed newly elected Assembly members would not be able to take their seats until suspension, which has been operating since last October, is lifted by the Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy.

An NIO spokesman confirmed: “If the Assembly is in suspension at the date of the election the Secretary of State is required to call its first meeting within eight days of the restoration of devolution.”

The spokesman was responding to claims from anti-Good Friday Agreement unionist Robert McCartney that recent legislation shifting the date of the election from May 1 to May 29 removed a requirement on the Government to reconvene the Assembly eight days after the poll.

“If the election produces a result the Government does not like, it can simply prevent the Assembly from ever sitting,” the North Down MLA claimed.

“The new legislation no longer requires the Government to call a meeting of the Assembly eight days after the election.

“People could vote for representatives and yet the Government could turn around and say: ‘We don’t think a DUP-Sinn Fein led government is going to work, so we will keep the Assembly in suspension’.

“That would render the Assembly election a complete farce.”

Speculation had been mounting in Belfast in recent days that the date of the election could be changed a second time to October if parties reject Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern’s blueprint for implementing the Good Friday Agreement.

Last month the Government moved the date to May 29 to give the parties more time to forge a deal.

Mr Blair and Mr Ahern are expected next Thursday to unveil a package which will attempt to nail down all outstanding aspects of the Agreement.

Sources close to the governments have said the document will outline how republican and loyalist terror groups should abandon all paramilitary activity.

It will also address how both governments will tackle policing, a reduction in Army installations, criminal justice reform, equality, human rights and political institutions.

David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists hope the IRA will respond by announcing an end to all paramilitary activity and by carrying out a third substantial act of decommissioning.

However republicans insist the governments must honour all their commitments if the gun is to disappear from Irish politics for good.

Last month, negotiations stalled on the crucial issue of what would happen if a party reneged on any of its commitments under the Agreement.

David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists want a system of sanctions against Sinn Fein if the IRA goes back on its word.

However Sinn Fein believes sanctions would be outside the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, with party sources warning the issue could potentially wreck any deal.

London and Dublin officials are believed to be considering an independent monitoring group for the Agreement which would name and shame those who have failed to honour their obligations.

The group would be made up of American, British, Irish and Northern Irish representatives and would examine how all sides – the paramilitaries, parties and two governments – are honouring their commitments.