DUP: Talks to end summer of stalemate ‘useful’

The DUP today described its talks with Sinn Fein to end the impasse over the transfer of policing and justice powers as “useful”.

The talks took place at Stormont this morning as the two main Executive parties questioned each other’s commitment to the power-sharing administration after a summer of stalemate

Relations between Ministers appeared to have soured with the goodwill and momentum generated in the first year of the new regime evaporating.

The DUP argues Sinn Fein’s refusal to allow Executive meetings for more than two months has called republican intentions into question.

But Sinn Fein insists the DUP’s prevention of switching policing and justice responsibility from Westminster has undermined nationalist confidence in the new regime.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and respective party delegations attended the initial session which lasted around two hours.

Afterwards a spokesman for the DUP said: “The Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein met this morning and discussed a range of issues.

“We had a useful exchange and will be having further meetings in the coming days and weeks.”

Further meetings are now likely in the run-up to the next scheduled meeting of the Executive on September 18.

The discussions come the day after the Independent Monitoring Commission concluded the IRA army council is “no longer operational or functional.”

Ahead of today’s meeting Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said, however: “There’s a real concern out there and it isn’t just among republicans that elements within the DUP are not reconciled to the concept of partnership government.”

There are a number of issues including Irish language legislation which are outstanding from the St Andrews Agreement, also including Irish language legislation, but he said that on-going concern about the IRA army council was “a false issue”.

“All I know is that the IRA have left the stage and did so some time ago. The IMC, which was created as a sop to unionism, was very explicit and confirmed the IRA has kept to all its stated commitments.”

But DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said: “It is not the DUP running round threatening to pull things down. It is Sinn Fein which has stopped work through the Executive.

“The primary issue to do with policing and justice is community confidence and the IRA Army Council is not the only issue. If Gerry Adams says they have left the stage, what is the problem with saying they have disbanded?

“We have taken Sinn Fein and the republican movement a long way ... we are making good progress and we are determined to finish the job.

“But there are issues for people out there in letting Sinn Fein anywhere near policing and justice.”

Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey warned, however, Sinn Fein and the DUP are in danger of walking into a “full blown crisis”.

“If Northern Ireland faces another Assembly suspension, then the business community and all those outside the Province who have given us their support will simply abandon us,” he said.

Belfast Telegraph