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Paisley and Adams at talks table Paisley in Adams boycott threat
(about 3 hours later)
DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams are due to attend a meeting of the Preparation for Government Committee. DUP leader Ian Paisley is threatening not to attend a meeting alongside Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in a row over the ministerial pledge of office.
They will be joined by other party leaders at Stormont. Mr Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness are due to become first and deputy first ministers on 24 November.
The committee's job will be to consider changes to the Stormont rules and to agree priorities for the executive scheduled to take power next March. The DUP is insisting that a pledge of support for policing and for law and order is in place before then.
The committee met several times over the summer, but Tuesday's meeting is being seen as far more significant. It was seen as significant that Mr Paisley and Mr Adams were to sit at the same round table for talks at Stormont.
The Preparation for Government Committee's job is to consider changes to the Stormont rules and to agree priorities for the executive scheduled to take power next March.
If there's not delivery, I do not believe today's meeting will be attended by Dr Paisley Ian Paisley JrDUP assembly member Other party leaders will attend the meeting of the committee, which sat over the summer months.
However, Mr Paisley's son, DUP assemblyman Ian Paisley Jr, warned the government "would have a lot to answer for" if the pledge issue was not resolved.
"If there's not delivery, I do not believe today's meeting will be attended by Dr Paisley," he said.
"I don't think people want these arrangements to unravel, but if the government unravels them then the deal breaks because of them."
On Monday, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said it would be the first of regular meetings of the committee to agree priorities for the executive.On Monday, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said it would be the first of regular meetings of the committee to agree priorities for the executive.
"Crucially, parties will for the first time together be represented at leadership level on that committee," Mr Hain said."Crucially, parties will for the first time together be represented at leadership level on that committee," Mr Hain said.
'Sworn enemy'
The Northern Ireland parties have been given until 10 November to respond to what the governments are calling the St Andrews Agreement.The Northern Ireland parties have been given until 10 November to respond to what the governments are calling the St Andrews Agreement.
It was published after intensive three-day talks between the parties at St Andrews in Scotland.It was published after intensive three-day talks between the parties at St Andrews in Scotland.
BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent Gareth Gordon said Mr Paisley had "spent a lifetime viewing Sinn Fein as his sworn enemy". If all goes to plan, a first and deputy first minister will be nominated on 24 November and the devolved institutions will be up and running by 26 March.
"But this afternoon he'll sit round a table with Gerry Adams... the first step on a road which could see him sharing power with republicans in just five months.
"It will be intriguing to see how both leaders handle an encounter which, for many years, seemed unimaginable."
If all goes to plan a first and deputy first minister will be nominated on 24 November and the devolved institutions will be up and running by 26 March.