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PMs will attend 'critical' talks | PMs will attend 'critical' talks |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Intensive political talks involving the two prime ministers will be held outside Northern Ireland next month, the secretary of state has confirmed. | Intensive political talks involving the two prime ministers will be held outside Northern Ireland next month, the secretary of state has confirmed. |
Peter Hain rejected criticism that taking negotiations away from Stormont was a waste of tax payers money. | Peter Hain rejected criticism that taking negotiations away from Stormont was a waste of tax payers money. |
The talks, which Mr Hain said were "critical", will take place in October. | The talks, which Mr Hain said were "critical", will take place in October. |
Mr Hain stressed there was "no question" of an extension to the 24 November deadline for restoring devolution. | Mr Hain stressed there was "no question" of an extension to the 24 November deadline for restoring devolution. |
"Northern Ireland has had deadline after deadline after deadline and for all sorts of good reasons in the past they have been extended," he said. | |
The DUP said last week they would prefer any intensive talks aimed at restoring devolution to be held at Stormont. | The DUP said last week they would prefer any intensive talks aimed at restoring devolution to be held at Stormont. |
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said "big house" talks would be a waste of money. | UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said "big house" talks would be a waste of money. |
'Working conference' | 'Working conference' |
But Mr Hain added: "Critical negotiations will take place outside of Northern Ireland. We need to concentrate minds. | |
"I think it's much better to get away from the day-to-day issues and daily pressures that face all politicians. | |
"This will be a working conference of intense negotiations. This is not some kind of stately home exercise for its own sake. | |
"I believe it would be the people of Northern Ireland who will have lost out (if power-sharing is not restored) because democracy will have lost out." | |
Devolved government was suspended over allegations of a republican spy ring. | Devolved government was suspended over allegations of a republican spy ring. |
The court case that followed collapsed and one of those involved, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent. | The court case that followed collapsed and one of those involved, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent. |
Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since. | Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since. |