Ervine: ‘North Assembly should be running next year’

The leader of the Progressive Unionist Party David Ervine said today there was no excuse for the Northern Assembly at Stormont not to be up and running by this time next year.

Mr. Ervine was speaking after talks with the Taoiseach in Government Buildings at lunchtime.

He said recent comments made by Bertie Ahern about giving loyalists time and space should be heeded by Sinn Féin and the SDLP.

“Today the Taoiseach further reiterated that which he has always said and any conversation I've ever with him is about the attitude of inclusion.” He said.

“I just wish that the rest of nationalist Ireland and political nationalist Ireland would take a leaf out of his book, because clearly what he is saying is Loyalists need time and space.”