McGuinness lays down power-sharing challenge to DUP

Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness tonight challenged the Democratic Unionists to use their stunning electoral triumph to form a new Northern Ireland power-sharing government in two weeks’ time.

With the British government warning all sides in Belfast they will shut down the Stormont Parliament unless a deal is done by the March 26 deadline, Mr McGuinness pledged complete republican co-operation if the DUP goes back into an Executive.

The Sinn Féin chief negotiator claimed it was a time of great hope and opportunity after the two parties’ major gains in Wednesday’s elections to the North's Assembly.

Ian Paisley’s DUP emerged as the largest party with 36 seats in the 108-member authority, followed by Sinn Féin’s 28 representatives.

After a meeting of his party’s Ard Chomhairle in Dublin to begin preparations for possible devolution, Mr McGuinness said: “Over the next fortnight, the DUP have a big decision to make.

“They went into the election saying they are ready for government and they got a massive endorsement for this position.

“I hope that Ian Paisley will now see the benefits of doing the right thing.

“If they really want to move ahead they will find Sinn Féin ready to work with them to deliver in the interests of all the people.”

Even though British Prime Minister Tony Blair has stressed that going beyond March 26 is not an option, the DUP has yet to commit to the deadline for going back into a power-sharing administration.

The party is demanding further proof of Sinn Féin’s support for policing and the rule of law following republicans’ historic decision in January to back the force in the North.

Should the Executive be reformed in time, the DUP’s electoral strength would give it four seats, Sinn Féin three, two Ulster Unionists and one nationalist SDLP.

At its head would be Mr Paisley as First Minister and Mr McGuinness as Deputy First Minister; a fascinating and once unthinkable combination.

But with serious doubts over the prospects of getting Stormont up and running in time, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain today issued a stark warning that the alternative was a halt to MLAs wages and continued direct rule.

Writing in the Daily Mirror, he said: “Either they do what they have been elected to do, or I will close the Assembly down, lock the doors and get on with taking decisions in the best interests of Northern Ireland.

“And the politicians elected on Wednesday – they’ll be out of a job with their salaries and expenses stopped.

“There will be no more MLAs. That’s not a threat, it’s a political reality and the British and Irish Governments will move forward with Plan B.”

He added: “If there is not to be devolution on March 26, then this generation of MLAs will have wasted a golden opportunity to take over the reins of power and will have thrown themselves into the political wilderness.”