Talks signal countdown to power-sharing

Northern Secretary Peter Hain will hold new talks in Belfast today as a two-week countdown begins to the deadline for restoring power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain will hold new talks in Belfast today as a two-week countdown begins to the deadline for restoring power-sharing in the North.

With British Chancellor Gordon Brown also expected to feature in the next fortnight as the parties seek to negotiate a package of up to £1bn (€1.47bn) to run the new devolved administration, Mr Hain is meeting Sinn Féin chiefs Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

Their discussions at Stormont will undoubtedly cover the burning question of whether Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists are prepared to agree to a coalition government with republicans by March 26.

Both the DUP and Sinn Féin strengthened their positions with resounding triumphs in last week’s elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

They emerged as the largest two parties, taking a respective 36 and 28 seats in the 108-member authority.

However, despite Prime Minister Tony Blair’s insistence that going beyond March 26 was not an option, Mr Paisley has yet to commit to the cut-off date for re-establishing the Executive.

His party wants further reassurances on Sinn Féin’s support for policing and the rule of law following republicans’ historic decision in January to back the police force in the North.

Should the Assembly be reformed in time, the DUP’s electoral strength would give it four seats in a cabinet, 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.

Mr Hain has already warned he will shut down the Stormont Parliament, cut MLAs salaries and continue running the North under the current system of direct-rule ministers unless the two sides do a deal.

“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,” he has pledged.

But unionists and republicans alike will want guarantees from the Treasury that a series of grants will be made available for major infrastructure work.

As the pressure mounts, the Tony Blair may also meet with the parties in a bid to make the final advancement.

Mr McGuinness has already made it clear that the onus now lies firmly with the DUP.

“Over the next fortnight the DUP have a big decision to make,” he said in Dublin on Saturday.

"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.”