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Talks to start to save power sharing in Northern Ireland Talks to save power sharing in Northern Ireland due to start
(35 minutes later)
The British and Irish governments are to open talks aimed at saving Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government.The British and Irish governments are to open talks aimed at saving Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government.
Stormont House, on the parliamentary estate in East Belfast, will host the discussions on Tuesday, which will seek to rebuild unionist confidence with republicans after allegations the Provisional IRA is still armed and killing its enemies on the streets of Belfast. Stormont House, on the parliamentary estate in east Belfast, will host the discussions on Tuesday, which will seek to rebuild unionist confidence with republicans after allegations the Provisional IRA is still armed and killing its enemies on the streets of Belfast.
Ministers from London and Dublin will also be urging Northern Irish parties to solve the other key issue that threatens to bring down devolution: welfare reforms of the region’s huge public sector.Ministers from London and Dublin will also be urging Northern Irish parties to solve the other key issue that threatens to bring down devolution: welfare reforms of the region’s huge public sector.
The negotiations are expected to last about four weeks and it is unlikely that the Northern Ireland Executive will meet during this time. Peter Robinson, the first minister, said on Monday that his Democratic Unionist ministers will not sit around the cabinet table – a move that puts the four-party coalition administration on hold until the talks are over. The negotiations are expected to last about four weeks and it is unlikely that the Northern Ireland executive will meet during this time. Peter Robinson, the first minister, said on Monday that his Democratic Unionist ministers will not sit around the cabinet table – a move that puts the four-party coalition administration on hold until the talks are over.
The main cause of the crisis was the murder in August of former IRA prisoner Kevin McGuigan outside his home in East Belfast. It was believed he was targeted after being blamed for killing former comrade and ex-Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison. Related: Northern Ireland power-sharing executive meetings suspended
George Hamilton, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said individual members of the Provisional IRA were responsible for killing McGuigan. However, Hamilton stressed that the PIRA leadership had not sanctioned the murder and that the organisation was no longer on a war footing. The main cause of the crisis was the murder in August of former IRA prisoner Kevin McGuigan outside his home in east Belfast. It was believed he was targeted after being blamed for killing former comrade and ex-Belfast IRA commander Gerard “Jock” Davison.
Sinn Féin has denied any PIRA role in McGuigan’s murder and said the armed group has “left the stage”. George Hamilton, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said individual members of the Provisional IRA (PIRA) were responsible for killing McGuigan. However, Hamilton stressed that the PIRA leadership had not sanctioned the murder and that the organisation was no longer on a war footing.
Sinn Féin has denied any PIRA role in McGuigan’s murder and said the armed group had “left the stage”.
Ahead of the talks on Tuesday, the leader of the nationalist SDLP and Belfast South MP, Alasdair McDonnell, accused Sinn Féin of “straightforward dishonesty”.Ahead of the talks on Tuesday, the leader of the nationalist SDLP and Belfast South MP, Alasdair McDonnell, accused Sinn Féin of “straightforward dishonesty”.
McDonnell told RTE television on Tuesday morning: “What’s going on here is people who are well connected to the republican movement, people who would be doubling up as Sinn Féin election workers and advisers, can somehow or other double up after dark as having guns and taking actions.” McDonnell told RTÉ television on Tuesday morning: “What’s going on here is people who are well connected to the republican movement, people who would be doubling up as Sinn Féin election workers and advisers, can somehow or other double up after dark as having guns and taking actions.”
The SDLP leader also criticised the Ulster Unionist party for pulling out of the power sharing executive, describing it as a “stunt”. The SDLP leader also criticised the Ulster Unionist party for pulling out of the power-sharing executive, describing it as a stunt.
He also said that Robinson’s decision to temporarily bar his ministers from attending executive meetings was premature before the start of talks.He also said that Robinson’s decision to temporarily bar his ministers from attending executive meetings was premature before the start of talks.
Related: Sinn Féin warns over threat of welfare cuts in Northern Ireland
Theresa Villiers, the Northern Ireland secretary, will address the Commons on Tuesday before she flies to Belfast to co-chair the discussions with Ireland’s foreign minister, Charles Flanagan.Theresa Villiers, the Northern Ireland secretary, will address the Commons on Tuesday before she flies to Belfast to co-chair the discussions with Ireland’s foreign minister, Charles Flanagan.
During her speech, she will outline the government’s position not only on preventing further paramilitary activity but also on the issue of reforming Northern Ireland’s welfare system.During her speech, she will outline the government’s position not only on preventing further paramilitary activity but also on the issue of reforming Northern Ireland’s welfare system.
At a speech in Cambridge at the weekend she warned that London could impose welfare cuts and reforms on the region if no agreement is reached. Her stance has angered Sinn Féin.At a speech in Cambridge at the weekend she warned that London could impose welfare cuts and reforms on the region if no agreement is reached. Her stance has angered Sinn Féin.
Meanwhile the Northern Ireland affairs committee is to hold public hearings on Wednesday that will raise the spectre of the PIRA’s huge arsenal of weapons, much of which was supplied by Colonel Gaddafi’s regime in Libya. Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland affairs committee is to hold public hearings on Wednesday that will raise the spectre of the PIRA’s huge arsenal of weapons, much of which was supplied by Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in Libya.
Gadaffi supplied the PIRA with tonnes of weaponry from the mid 1980s onwards including Semtex explosive which was used in several major atrocities during the Troubles. Gadaffi supplied the PIRA with tonnes of weaponry from the mid-1980s including Semtex explosive which was used in several major atrocities during the Troubles.
The committee will ask the government why it has not sought compensation for victims killed and injured with Libyan-supplied weapons in IRA attacks during the conflict.The committee will ask the government why it has not sought compensation for victims killed and injured with Libyan-supplied weapons in IRA attacks during the conflict.
The hearings could also allow Northern Irish MPs to ask security officials and ministers if all of the Libyan-supplied arms were in fact decommissioned a decade ago as part of moves to run down the IRA as a military force. The hearings could also allow Northern Irish MPs to ask security officials and ministers if all of the Libyan-supplied arms were decommissioned a decade ago as part of moves to run down the IRA as a military force.