Blair to hear concerns of SF leaders

Sinn Féin leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness will raise concerns today about proposals to revive powersharing in Northern Ireland at a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The two Sinn Féin MPs will lead a party delegation to Downing Street after it emerged the negotiating team were unhappy with some aspects of the Irish and British government proposal to revive devolution and secure IRA disarmament.

After lengthy discussions on Wednesday withTaoiseach Bertie Ahern and his officials in Dublin, Mr Adams said: “There are issues of concern for Sinn Féin and we have made the point that viable proposals for forward movement must be firmly grounded in the Good Friday Agreement.

“I do believe if our concerns are adequately addressed, we could have the basis for a comprehensive agreement.

“Sinn Féin will continue to work to achieve that objective.”

The Irish and British governments’ proposals also alarmed SDLP leader Mark Durkan who claimed they went too far towards the position of Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists.

The Foyle Assembly member told a debate at University College Dublin last night that plans to replace the joint election of First and Deputy First Ministers in the Assembly with a block vote for the entire team of powersharing ministers were foolish.

Mr Durkan claimed: “It means that DUP have a veto over any nationalist minister appointed to the executive.

“When the SDLP negotiated the Agreement, we ensured that no party could veto any other party’s ministerial appointment.

“Now, the DUP can politically vet the lot. Nationalists won’t have the last say on who they appoint as ministers. The DUP will.”

The leader of the cross-community Alliance Party David Ford also observed last night that Dublin and London's plan had offered a compromised proposal to Sinn Féin and the DUP but there still remained gaps.

“I urge both the DUP and Sinn Féin to seize the opportunity presented to them,” the South Antrim MLA said.

“If they fail to do so, they risk an indefinite period of direct rule.”

Mr Ford said that even if both parties accepted the proposals, it was clear “that any new beginning for the Assembly will be on a very fragile basis".

“Further reforms to the Assembly structures and a major commitment to improving community relations will be required to ensure devolution is stable and sustainable.”

Talks sources claimed that the two governments have proposed a target date for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont within two years.

It is also understood officials in Dublin and London have suggested an enhanced East-West arrangement under the Good Friday Agreement, strengthening the links between the two governments and the devolved administrations in the UK.

It is believed the documents holds out the possibility that there could be increased cross border cooperation between a future executive at Stormont and the Irish Government.

Nationalists were unhappy that there still appeared to be no guarantee from the DUP that it is prepared to expand North-South arrangements.

Talks sources also believed DUP confidence in IRA disarmament proposals would be crucial, with the party pressing for more transparency.