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Deadline looms for Northern Ireland deal
Friday, 29 January 2010
The deadline for Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness to come up with an agreement is looming
enlargePrime Minister Gordon Brown may be forced to make a fresh intervention later today unless the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein can hammer out an 11th hour deal on the transfer of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have until lunchtime to come up with an agreement, otherwise the British and Irish Governments will published their own proposals.
Mr Brown and the Republic's Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, who have already been to Hillsborough Castle to try to broker a settlement, want the two sides to agree a process to transfer the powers from London to Belfast by the start of May.
The key sticking point is DUP demands for the abolition of the Parades Commission, which adjudicates on contentious marches, and instead leave it to an independent panel, appointed by the office of the First and Deputy First Minister, to arbitrate.
But they have also insisted they are also open to alternative proposals on parades.
New disclosures of more secret talks between Mr Robinson's DUP and Sir Reg Empey's Ulster Unionist Party in an attempt to agree a unionist unity electoral pact are unlikely to help the already tense atmosphere around the negotiating table, and the signs going into today's discussions offered little hope of a breakthrough.
The parades issue clearly remains the major obstacle and if there no deal, then there is a distinct possibility Sinn Fein will walk away, collapsing the powersharing executive and triggering new Stormont elections.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said: "Anybody who thinks that the price of policing and justice is a walk down the Garvaghy Road (Drumcree) or through Ardoyne (north Belfast), it is just ridiculous. Let's deal with the issues sensibly, let's do our best to make sure the outstanding matters of this agreement are implemented."
The DUP's Sammy Wilson, the Stormont finance minister, said his party was in the "mindset" to do a deal and was capable of making a sustainable agreement which members could stand by.
He added: "I would rather have a 'Made in Ulster' deal than something which is brought here and imposed on us, whether a suggestion or a proposal from London or Dublin.
"A 'Made in Ulster' deal will stick, a proposal from London or Dublin will mean that in some way we are seen as incapable of dealing with these things."
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Comments
34 Comments
Candidate - Less
"Those rural crofters who did civilize this island " .......
Suffering from the old guild complex of robbing other peoples land are we ? Any excuse - however untrue.
As for indigenous "Ulster" 2,000 + years relics of the highest craftsmanship and beauty were found only last year in Tyrone. When these were fashioned, people were primitive savages in Britain until the Romans from 43 AD brought some civilization.
Among other things human sacrifice to the Gods was commonplace in tribal Britain right up to the Roman conquest and beyond.
Later still the indigenous Irish brought Christianity to Britain.
Posted by Fair Play | 29.01.10, 23:49 GMT
Diane Patton
A bit of common sense at last among all the point scoring and "whataboutery" (including by me)
I would vote for you to any day, and I'm Catholic Republican from the Republic !
Northern Ireland needs another million of your political mentality.
VERY well said and go safely through life.
Posted by Fair Play | 29.01.10, 22:45 GMT
One point I would like to put to The Future is this; throughout the United Kingdom the right to march everywhere exists for all - why should this not be so here in this part of the UK...? there are areas where marches were held long before any catholic housing was built, this is crazy!
I am catholic and could not give a toss where anyone marches - why not join me in my opinion and drop all this stupidity?
If you people do not want our leaders to waste time talking about parades then for gods sake either accept the parades or just simply ignore them! WE make parades an issue not the MLA's!
Posted by WJ | 29.01.10, 20:29 GMT
if peter robinson backs an irish language act and words gets out about it, he is history. if the orange order marches through rc areas get the go ahead from maginness and word gets out, he is finished. we live in a place of bitter hatred and bigotry. it would take a major disaster like a massive earth quake to shake us out of this stalemate. as far as i am concerned, no politician in stormont is representing my views. let everyone live their life and get on with your own life. sack the lot of them and have joint rule from london and dublin.
Posted by peter | 29.01.10, 19:41 GMT
It's totally unbelieveable that a deal cannot be reached simply because
the orange order wants to parade in places where they are neither welcome or wanted. What a message this sends to the rest of the civilized world where NI so badly needs foreign investment and also needs to keep the foreign companys already invested there,not a good strategy for winning over foreign companies.
Posted by John | 29.01.10, 19:34 GMT
Perhaps a couple of absolute rights would solve a few things. For example - anyone can walk wherever they want - provided they pay for whatever protection they think they need. Real money might help who who wish to offend avoid those who wish to be offended!
Posted by Mervyn | 29.01.10, 19:23 GMT
Elections here are the cause of conflict. Each side elects Pit Bulls throws them in the ring and expects them to produce jobs, wealth and investment. Elections should be banned along with political parties in NI. If that doesn't happen the cycle will continue. New Pit Bulls same results.
Posted by Zeno | 29.01.10, 19:19 GMT
Parades in every street may I remind you that streets are for motor cars not sectarian marchies.
Posted by sean from co down Ireland | 29.01.10, 19:14 GMT
Both sides have been, for a long time, and are still acting like a bunch of children.
If the Protestants want to march, let them. The Catholics should welcome them with tea and cakes while the Protestants are marching.
Teaching the Protestants that the Catholics don't care about their silly march should have some effect.
It looks like Brown should, needs to put an end to this row and put Devolution in place, NOW.
Posted by T P Kelley | 29.01.10, 19:13 GMT
I saw Sammy Wilson giving the interview outside the gates of Hillsborough Castle that you are quoting him from. He was laughing and joking about a"Made in Ulster deal being able to aviod icebergs. If this is the intellect of the people we have elected to negotiate our future, then we deserve all we get. I for one would prefer to see Northern Ireland goverend by real politicians from London and Dublin. The idea of someone like Mr Wilson making decisions that will effect my future and my childrens future is genuinely terrifying to me.
Posted by Mike | 29.01.10, 19:07 GMT
I'd like to join Diane's fan club (12.52). How do we get across to all our politicians that we are sick to death of their antics. Sort it out!!!
Posted by Bongo | 29.01.10, 17:50 GMT
Diane that is the best piece of unbigoted dialogue i have ever read on this site!!!!!
Posted by michael bell | 29.01.10, 17:23 GMT
An excellent post from Diane Patton.
I feel like re-writing the Beatles song "Fool on the Hill" to "Fools on the Hill"
Posted by lumina | 29.01.10, 17:08 GMT
Note to the Belfast Telegraph - please print Diane Patton's insightful and accurate comments in the "Letters" section of the hard copy edition.
Posted by Liam | 29.01.10, 16:48 GMT
Note to the Belfast Telegraph - please print Diane Patton's insightful and accurate comments in the "Letters" section of the hard copy edition.
Posted by Liam | 29.01.10, 16:47 GMT
Yet another deadline looms. What a joke. Why would any foreign investors invest in such a soap opera?
Posted by Rich | 29.01.10, 16:38 GMT
Diane Patton- you would get my vote! Great comments - get yourself up to the assembley and give them what for.
Posted by A Diane Patton Voter | 29.01.10, 16:33 GMT
"A 'Made in Ulster' deal will stick, a proposal from London or Dublin will mean that in some way we are seen as incapable of dealing with these things." - YOU ARE INCAPABLE!! HAS THE PENNY NOT DROPPED YET
Posted by Chris | 29.01.10, 16:01 GMT
Diane - are you sure you're a Protestant - and if you are you should be ashamed of yourself. There's enough Protestant haters on here without idiots like you chiming in. Regardless of whether you care for the Orange Order or not there are a lot of people who do - witness the huge amount of people who turn out on 12 July to participate and to watch. What about their rights?
Posted by Tazikins | 29.01.10, 15:54 GMT
@ Candidate-less, you rail against bigotry and push Diane as a voice of sanity (she's very sane) and then you finish up your comment with 'those rural crofters (who did civilise this island)". Shame to mess it all up at the end, you'll find there was a great deal of civilisation on the island before the 'crofters' arrived, good grief, if you've got to make a point why not say they contributed to the civilisation of the island or something reasonable! *sighs & shakes head*
I'd like to see a British/Irish government joint rule arrangement, it's the only way we'll be free of the hugely incompetent, hick politicians at Stormont. Worth a spin I think, the current set-ups not doing very well.
Posted by Farrah | 29.01.10, 15:35 GMT
34 Comments