DUP blamed for power-sharing failure

The only outstanding issue facing Northern Ireland’s politicians is whether Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists will form a power sharing executive, it was claimed today.

The only outstanding issue facing the North’s politicians is whether Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists will form a power sharing executive, it was claimed today.

As speculation mounted that British prime minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will host Leeds Castle-style hothouse talks with the parties in Scotland or England in October, Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey said his party was willing and ready to share power with the DUP.

He also stressed Sinn Féin’s difficulties over policing in the North could only be resolved if there were fully functioning political institutions.

The South Belfast Assembly member said: “The only party opposed to the restoration of the political institutions is the DUP.

“That needs to be the focus of the two governments in the run up to their November 24 deadline (for devolution).

“Other outstanding matters such as policing can only be resolved in the context of functioning political institutions.

“The format and venue of any future engagement is a minor issue. The reality is that the political negotiations have already happened. The only remaining issue to be resolved is anti-Agreement stance of Ian Paisley and his party.

“The DUP has a stark choice. They can either come to terms with current political realities, or the process of change will move on without them.”

Mr Maskey was responding to Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey’s call on both governments not to waste public money on talks at an English or Scottish country estate with the parties.

Officials in London and Dublin have been looking at possible venues and are believed to be considering holding the talks on October 9 or 10 on the back of another IRA and loyalist paramilitary ceasefire assessment from the Independent Monitoring Commission.

The North’s politicians have until November 24 to decide whether they can form a power sharing executive.

However, there is not much optimism that the deadline will be met.

The DUP has warned Mr Blair and Mr Ahern it will not be bounced into government with Sinn Féin by the deadline.

It will instead base any decision on whether there is proof that the IRA has abandoned its criminality and paramilitarism for good.

Senior DUP figures have also insisted Sinn Féin must also publicly back the Police Service of Northern Ireland and urge its supporters to engage with the police if it is to be a credible partner in government.

UUP leader Sir Reg Empey warned last night another round of hothouse talks outside the North would be a waste of taxpayers money.

The East Belfast Assembly member said: “The cost of hiring the venue, the associated security, flying over, accommodating and feeding a large number of Assembly members and staff is astronomical and a chronic waste of public expenditure.

“The big house spectacular summit may have worked in the past in terms of the optics and trying to generate a pressure cooker environment, but in reality they achieved little.

“Can anyone in Northern Ireland name one big house summit where a breakthrough was made?

“The answer is no. The contrary is true.

“Castle Buildings, Stormont and Hillsborough Castle have been places where meaningful progress has been made in the past.”