Northern talks - Parties must be pushed into action

The Irish and British Governments intend to remain on course to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, as announced in St Andrews last month, despite no definite commitment from either Sinn Féin or the Democratic Unionist Party.

Although none of the parties in the North have wholeheartedly embraced the formula to emerge from the Scottish meeting, these parties are pivotal to the process moving forward.

Both governments had asked the parties to consider the proposals and to consult with their memberships on them and to indicate their acceptance of them by yesterday.