SDLP in Dublin meeting with Taoiseach

A delegation from the SDLP is in Dublin for talks with the Taoiseach.

These are the party's first discussions with Bertie Ahern since it increased its number of seats to three in the recent Westminster elections

Leader of the party Mark Durkan is demanding that his mandate is not ignored in a deal involving Sinn Féin and the DUP.

Mr Durkan said "They need to tell Gerry Adams that just because he has finally asked the IRA to do what the agreement has required the IRA to do for over seven years, that does not make him the sole author of political progress either, and the two governments, as custodians and guardians of the agreement, have got to show that they are going to take things forward and that terms are not going to be set simply by the DUP or by either provisional movement.''