NI politicians in Dublin and London talks
Ulster Unionists are in Dublin today for talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
At the same time SDLP leader Mark Durkan is meeting Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain in London.
The discussions take place as the Government publishes its plans for the treatment of wanted terrorists still on the run from justice.
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey is pressing Mr Ahern to drop plans to give elected members of the Northern Ireland Assembly speaking rights in the Dáil.
He said the discussions would be a “general political stock-take” with particular emphasis on the speaking rights issue which the UUP remained opposed to.
Tomorrow Sir Reg leads a party delegation to Downing Street for talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
There, he said, he would be pressing the Government to abandon reforms of the education system in the North – to which a majority of parents are opposed.
He said the system due to be imposed was the very same as that currently being dismantled in England.
Speaking ahead of the two meetings, the UUP leader said: “The meetings will be a useful gauge as to how committed both Prime Ministers are to ending the political vacuum and setting out how democratically-elected politicians can move forward.”
He said in discussions with Mr Blair it would be particularly interesting to see whether he would properly re-engage on the North once he is freed from his duties as the head of the G8 and presidency of the EU.
Meanwhile MP Mr Durkan and party members are meeting Mr Hain at the House of Commons.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, SDLP justice spokesman Alban Maginness, MLA, warned that the Government was in danger of rushing headlong into getting plans for restorative justice wrong.
“An independent complaints system is the protection that everybody should expect – why does the British government not agree,” said Mr Maginness.
He added: “A dedicated independent agency managing community justice schemes makes sense – why are the government not in agreement?
“Proper accountability and rigorous human rights standards are essential to any agency involved in justice – why does the British Government act differently for restorative justice?”
