'Queen won't visit Republic until devolution complete'

An historic visit by the Queen to the Republic has moved significantly closer but depends on the completion of devolution in the North, President Mary McAleese said today.

An historic visit by the British Queen to the Republic has moved significantly closer but depends on the completion of devolution in the North, President Mary McAleese said today.

The Queen and the President had a 10-minute private meeting in Belfast at the home of the vice chancellor of Queen's University today before going on to the university to celebrate the centenary of it receiving its royal charter.

There has been mounting speculation that the day of an announcement about a visit by the monarch to Dublin was getting closer.

Speaking after meeting the Queen, President McAleese said: "I think the day is significantly closer."

She said everyone knew what had to be done to make a visit possible.

"We know that it is dependent on the completion of devolution, which hopefully will not be too far away. That means the return of policing and criminal justice responsibility to the Executive in Northern Ireland.

"We had hoped that would be May. Now we are not entirely sure what the time scale is. We hope it will keep closely to the timetable.

"When that is done, when devolution is completed, I think then anything is possible."

Mrs McAleese said she thought it unlikely a visit would take place this year, adding: "I would be hopeful, though, that it would happen sooner rather than later."

She said: "As you know, I am long on the record as saying I would wish that the visit would happen. We know that Her Majesty wishes to come and we know that we wish her to come. Please goodness it will happen."

The private meeting between the monarch and the President and their spouses was the fifth they have had, but their first in the North.

The President said they had a very good discussion and were very positive.

"Both of us talked about how miraculous these times are in Northern Ireland," she said.

"Both of us are very positive about things, both making the point that, in the past, when we have met, these were the days we hoped for and prayed for and were never sure when they would come - now we were sitting really enjoying it."

Relations between Britain and Ireland were now better than they had been for centuries, she said, adding that there was warmth, friendliness, mutual respect and confidence.

The meeting between the two heads of state was the highlight of the second day of a three-day visit by the Queen to the North.

After the private talks, the Queen went to Queen's University to celebrate the centenary of the granting of its royal charter.

A crowd of more than 1,000, both inside the university grounds and outside, gathered to welcome the Queen - some waving union flags.

It appeared just like any other royal visit to any other university in the UK, except for the security.

A heavy force of police was placed throughout the university grounds and marksmen scanned the area from rooftop vantage points.

All 300 guests invited to the centenary reception celebration had to go through airport-style security checks and prove their identity with passports.

Once inside, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, with President McAleese watching on, unveiled a stone engraved with a stanza written by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney to mark the anniversary.

Both the president and Heaney are past students and members of staff of the university.

Heaney read the Centenary Stanza which he had provided for the stone monument.

Queen's vice-chancellor Professor Peter Gregson said the university was honoured that the Queen and Duke had marked the centenary with a visit.

He said: "This is an important year for Queen's and the region we serve. The university has played a critical role in the education, cultural, social and economic development of Northern Ireland over the past century. Today's visit is a tangible recognition of that contribution."

He added: "We welcome Her Majesty today, not just as an honoured guest, but as part of our community. The Queen's official role as the University Visitor is an important part of our system of governance."

Among guests invited to the occasion were the North's First Minister Ian Paisley and his wife, Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward, and former Church of Ireland primate Robin Eames.

Stormont minister for employment and learning Reg Empey was among those to welcome the Queen and Duke on a visit which he too believed brought forward the day the Queen would go to Dublin.

He said: "I think today is part of the preparation."

He said however that it was also appropriate that the Queen and the president should meet at the university.