Paisley and Adams poised for historic meeting

Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams could hold their first face-to-face meeting today as their parties try to keep devolution hopes alive in the North.

Following Northern Secretary Peter Hain’s decision to start the countdown to today’s power-sharing deadline at Stormont, the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin were involved in a frantic race against time to cobble together a new deal which could delay power sharing until May.

As efforts to secure the deal continued through the night, sources involved in the negotiations said a ground-breaking meeting between the two leaders at Stormont was looking increasingly likely.

On Saturday the DUP’s 120-member executive backed a resolution ruling out the nomination of devolved ministers by today’s deadline but holding out the prospect of devolution in May.

In facing down British government demands that the party nominate Ian Paisley as First Minister today, the DUP is believed to have avoided a serious split in its ranks.

“The resolution on Saturday got over 90% backing,” a party insider said.

“Better to have got over 90% support for power-sharing in a few weeks time than to have only 70% support for power sharing today.

“This way, parties can properly prepare for devolved government, focus on securing more in the financial package being offered by Gordon Brown to the new Stormont Executive and have more time to ensure Sinn Féin is fully supportive of the police and the rule of law.”

If the DUP and Sinn Féin fail to strike a deal, the Assembly will close down and British ministers will continue to run Stormont departments.

They will also enhance cross-border partnership arrangements with the Government.

A talks source said: “There is a race against time going on now that Peter Hain has set off the clock on devolution.

“It looks like we are going to face a frantic day, full of bilateral, trilateral and multilateral meetings involving the parties in the Assembly.

“It is looking more likely we could see Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams facing each other across the negotiating table in a bid to agree a new power-sharing date. However a face-to-face meeting is not a done deal.

“With the Assembly due to meet at noon to nominate ministers, the parties are anxious to avoid that taking place because they know the DUP cannot appoint ministers. In fact if a plenary session does take place, that would not be a good sign.”

Peter Hain yesterday signed a restoration order for devolution because he claimed there was a chance that power-sharing could be achieved.

As the clock ran down, he insisted that if all the parties came back to him with an agreement plotting a new path back to devolution, he would be prepared to listen.

A new deal on power-sharing would require the British government pushing through emergency legislation at Westminster.

They would also have to put on hold plans to introduce controversial water charges in the North on April 1.

Last night Mr Adams said it was vital that the current intense talks delivered the political institutions which people voted for in the Assembly Election in the North on March 7.

“Otherwise additional water charges and other punitive and unfair measures will be introduced by unaccountable British Direct Rule ministers,” Adams warned.

“If the DUP remains unwilling or unable to reach an agreement with Sinn Féin and the other parties then the (British and Irish) governments have to move ahead with their all-Ireland partnership arrangements.”

It is understood approaches have been made to the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP, which will also take part in a power-sharing executive, for meetings at Stormont with the DUP and Sinn Féin.