Postponing talks was prudent

The postponement of yesterday’s much-heralded talks in Hillsborough, which were billed as a possible breakthrough for the peace process, was undoubtedly frustrating, but probably the better decision given that there appear to be serious hurdles still to overcome.

The proposals which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were due to unveil gave rise to the hope that, on the day of the fifth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, meaningful developments would follow.

Expectations were undoubtedly very buoyant among the pro-Agreement parties, but delay and postponement are familiar words in the lexicon of Northern Ireland and in the past have proved a judicious tool.