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Parties set for crunch NI talks | Parties set for crunch NI talks |
(40 minutes later) | |
Intensive multi-party negotiations aimed at brokering a deal to restore devolution to Northern Ireland are due to begin in Scotland. | Intensive multi-party negotiations aimed at brokering a deal to restore devolution to Northern Ireland are due to begin in Scotland. |
Prime ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern will open the three days of talks at St Andrews. | Prime ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern will open the three days of talks at St Andrews. |
The UK and Irish governments have given the parties until 24 November to reach a deal on power-sharing, otherwise the assembly may be put into cold storage. | The UK and Irish governments have given the parties until 24 November to reach a deal on power-sharing, otherwise the assembly may be put into cold storage. |
NI Secretary Peter Hain has said the talks must yield a "100% deal". | NI Secretary Peter Hain has said the talks must yield a "100% deal". |
"If there isn't a 100% deal Stormont will be shut down and the MLAs will cease to have representative rights and all that goes with that. Now that would be failure," he said. | |
"It would be second best by far and even worse than the deal which is now in prospect before us." | |
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said there was no longer any question that Ian Paisley's DUP will make a deal to restore devolution - only a question of when they will do it. | Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said there was no longer any question that Ian Paisley's DUP will make a deal to restore devolution - only a question of when they will do it. |
Where the key players stand Search for elusive peace deal | Where the key players stand Search for elusive peace deal |
However, addressing his party on Tuesday, Mr Adams said he did not know whether a deal would be done before the November deadline. | However, addressing his party on Tuesday, Mr Adams said he did not know whether a deal would be done before the November deadline. |
"I do know that the question is no longer about whether the DUP will do a deal, the question is about when the DUP will do a deal," he said. | "I do know that the question is no longer about whether the DUP will do a deal, the question is about when the DUP will do a deal," he said. |
"Our responsibility therefore is to do a deal with Ian Paisley, if he can be brought to that point, and if he cannot then the process continues without him." | "Our responsibility therefore is to do a deal with Ian Paisley, if he can be brought to that point, and if he cannot then the process continues without him." |
The talks in Scotland come a week after the body monitoring paramilitary activity said the IRA had changed radically and some of its most important structures had been dismantled. | The talks in Scotland come a week after the body monitoring paramilitary activity said the IRA had changed radically and some of its most important structures had been dismantled. |
Mr Blair said at that time the IRA's campaign was over and there was a "unique opportunity" to reach a final settlement. | Mr Blair said at that time the IRA's campaign was over and there was a "unique opportunity" to reach a final settlement. |
The focus is on Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams | The focus is on Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams |
The government hopes the report will help its efforts to restore devolution. | The government hopes the report will help its efforts to restore devolution. |
The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October 2002 amid allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont. | The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October 2002 amid allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont. |
The court case that followed collapsed and one of those charged, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent. | The court case that followed collapsed and one of those charged, 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. |
On 15 May this year, Northern Ireland's politicians took their seats in the Stormont assembly. | On 15 May this year, Northern Ireland's politicians took their seats in the Stormont assembly. |
The government hoped recalling the politicians would help to pave the way towards a deal in the autumn. | The government hoped recalling the politicians would help to pave the way towards a deal in the autumn. |
A Preparation for Government Committee was set up to identify obstacles to the return of devolution. It met over the summer months. | A Preparation for Government Committee was set up to identify obstacles to the return of devolution. It met over the summer months. |