Sinn Féin urges direct talks with unionists

Sinn Féin today urged the Democratic Unionists to engage in direct talks in order to break the political deadlock.

West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said that while dialogue was continuing with the two governments to restore the powersharing institutions, direct negotiations between the two largest parties in the Assembly was essential.

“It is a huge challenge for the DUP to come forward and have the courage of their convictions and have direct dialogue with us.

“It is very difficult to see how you can finally go into a powersharing Executive if they continue this stance of not talking directly to Sinn Fein,” he said.

Both the DUP and Sinn Féin leadership were in London this week for discussions with officials from both governments as efforts were stepped up to clinch a deal.

London and Dublin are trying to come up with a formula to which all the parties can agree to kickstart the powersharing Assembly.

During intensive talks at Leeds Castle in Kent last month, political leaders came tantalisingly close to securing a deal which would have meant the IRA giving up all its weapons and a restoration of the institutions.

The DUP are demanding changes to the Good Friday Agreement ensuring that Ministers are more accountable to the Stormont Assembly.

Signs that the gap could be beginning to narrow emerged today with DUP Deputy leader Peter Robinson saying he did not rule out a target date being for the transfer of policing and justice powers to the Stormont Executive.

The DUP has so far resisted nationalist pressure for a fixed deadline for the transfer of powers.

But Mr Robinson said any targets would have to reflect confidence across the community that local politicians were ready to take on the role of policing and justice.

“The target can only be realised if the community has the faith in the process that would follow – not simply because the calendar suggests this is the day it should happen,” he said.

Mr Doherty said his party was ready for doing a deal and was not against making ministers more accountable.

However, he added that any agreement must not be at the expense of undermining the Good Friday Agreement.

“I think that everybody accepts that if we can get the politics of the situation resolved the IRA would not be found wanting.

“We are in daily contact with the two governments and we have an absolute sense of where they stand in all of this,” he added.