Blair and Ahern urged to restore assembly

The British and Irish governments were today urged to fulfil the Good Friday Agreement and speedily restore powersharing in the North.

The DUP was also accused of becoming increasingly isolated after Irish Premier Bertie Ahern revealed the Assembly could be set up on a temporary basis, without an Executive, in a bid to break the political deadlock.

The governments are planning to publish their joint plan to restore power sharing in three weeks’ time.

Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said: “It is my view that we can collectively deliver a fully functioning Assembly and Executive.

“But for this to happen the two governments need to stand firmly behind the Good Friday Agreement.

“I look forward to seeing the proposals being put together by the two governments.

“These plans will be judged on whether or not they will deliver the institutions people voted for eight years ago.”

Outlining the way forward for the peace process, the Mid Ulster MP said: “In our discussions with the two Governments we have made it crystal clear that progress had to be made in the immediate period.

“This means the lifting of suspension and a determined effort to establish a fully functioning Executive.”

Mr McGuinness also claimed the Governments should stop pandering to the DUP.

He said: “It is clear that big decisions now lie ahead for Ian Paisley and his party.

“All of the other parties and the two Governments have stated that they wish to see the political institutions put back in place.

“The DUP remain isolated as the only party who continue to oppose progress.”

Mr McGuinness comments came after the Taoiseach indicated it was possible that the Assembly might be set up without the Executive, which consists of a First Minister, Deputy First Minister and various ministers with individual portfolios.

“Well, obviously if we don’t get agreement on the Executive you can’t have an Executive.

“But that shouldn’t stop the Assembly operating for a period of time while there is work for it to do and that could take a few months,” Mr Ahern said.

Both Sinn Féin and the SDLP oppose the concept of setting up a shadow assembly in advance of restoring the powersharing executive but the move is favoured by the DUP.

In an interview with the BBC’s Politics Show, Mr Ahern said there would be safeguards to prevent this period without an Executive being dragged out.

Mr Ahern said he and British Prime Minister Tony Blair did not intend to go through another year with the Assembly still suspended.

“I think the difficulty for the Prime Minister and I, is that it’s eight years on.

“It’s last summer since we got the IRA’s statement, which I think that most people thought we’d never get.

“The arms issue was dealt with in the early autumn so we are heading quickly towards another summer.”

Mr Ahern said he believed that all the obstacles to powersharing had been removed and it was just a matter of working out how to restore it.

“Politicians all over the world like to be in power and I am sure in the North it is no different, they want to deal with the everyday issues, what’s known all over the world as the bread and butter issues – to deal with education, local government and health.”