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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Nationalist parties to meet Ahern | Nationalist parties to meet Ahern |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Delegations from Sinn Fein and the SDLP are meeting Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin. | |
| They are expected to discuss the forthcoming talks in Scotland aimed at restoring devolution. | They are expected to discuss the forthcoming talks in Scotland aimed at restoring devolution. |
| Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams is heading a senior party delegation at their meeting. | |
| MEP Mary Lou McDonald, a member of the delegation, said it was possible to get "business done" by the two governments' 24 November deadline. | |
| "I believe that the political institutions can be restored and agreement reached in relation to all of the outstanding issues," she said. | "I believe that the political institutions can be restored and agreement reached in relation to all of the outstanding issues," she said. |
| "However, this will only happen if people go into this with the right attitude and not scramble about for excuses and obstacles as the deadline for progress approaches." | "However, this will only happen if people go into this with the right attitude and not scramble about for excuses and obstacles as the deadline for progress approaches." |
| Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams is heading a senior party delegation | |
| SDLP leader Mark Durkan will be leading a delegation of his party members to talks in the afternoon. | SDLP leader Mark Durkan will be leading a delegation of his party members to talks in the afternoon. |
| In a statement, the SDLP said they would be raising concerns that the British government is preparing legislation which would permit the exclusion of the SDLP and others from the executive and the role MI5 may be given in police intelligence. | In a statement, the SDLP said they would be raising concerns that the British government is preparing legislation which would permit the exclusion of the SDLP and others from the executive and the role MI5 may be given in police intelligence. |
| The British government has laid down 24 November as the deadline for a deal to be reached over the restoration of devolution. | The British government has laid down 24 November as the deadline for a deal to be reached over the restoration of devolution. |
| The main parties meet later this week in the Scottish town of St Andrew's for intensive talks. | The main parties meet later this week in the Scottish town of St Andrew's for intensive talks. |
| 'Opportunity' | |
| Meanwhile, at a briefing of reporters in London on Monday, Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said there was "a real opportunity" this week to agree the terms for a final settlement in Northern Ireland. | |
| He urged all parties to seize the opportunity presented by Wednesday's talks which, he warned, might not be repeated for the foreseeable future. | |
| The spokesman made it clear that Downing Street believes that a settlement agreed this week could be finalised in time for the 24 November deadline. | |
| "There is a window here to reach a final settlement, and the significance of that cannot be overstated," he said. |