Liberal Burblings

Archive for the ‘Northern Ireland’ Category

While acknowledging the historic nature of the DUP’s decision to go into government with Sinn Fein (albeit with a delay), Peter Hain has left the door open for a delay on the 26th March deadline. If DUP and Sinn Fein agree on a delay, then, he says, that’s OK. And Sinn Fein have said that the DUP must talk directly to them to allow a delay.

Crikey. It’s a good job no-one is holding their breath.

Despite Blair and Hain repeatedly saying that the 26th March was a final, final deadline, UTV reports that the DUP will request and probably get a six week delay before nominating ministers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

It seems difficult to see how the British government will squirm out of this and save any “face”at all.

The news output from Northern Ireland has been a bit quiet for a while. But the deadline of Monday, 26th March has crept up on us.

The DUP and Sinn Fein meet today. The signs are that, hopefully, the deadline will be met:

BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: “Most observers believe the DUP leader, Ian Paisley, is ready, in principle, to share power.

“But his party has been looking for an eight-week delay which will put a new Stormont executive on ice until late May.”

Mr Paisley held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair twice within 48 hours this week, ahead of the deadline.

After the second meeting, Downing Street re-iterated that Monday’s deadline stood.

Mr Paisley said a “great deal of ground” had been covered.

So it seems to be now or never. But in Northern Ireland you never know.

Voters go to the polls to place their 1,2,3 preference today in Northern Ireland. I see the BBC are explaining how many preferences voters can use (as many as they like, of course) and how the surpluses are allocated.

Well, that’s been said before. But the 90% vote by Sinn Fein delegates to support policing in Northern Ireland really is a milestone.