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DUP36+6SF28+4UUP18-9SDLP16-2AP7+1GP1+1PUP10UKUP0-1OTH1 After 108 of 108 elected href="/1/shared/vote2007/nielection/html/main.stm">Results in detail
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No 'shadow assembly' warns Hain Hain repeats warning on deadline
(about 4 hours later)
Speculation that the government will postpone its devolution deadline is "completely mistaken", Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has said. The government's 26 March deadline for devolution to be restored to Northern Ireland will not be changed, Secretary of State Peter Hain has again said.
In a letter to party leaders published in the News Letter, he said there was no plan for a shadow assembly if the 26 March devolution deadline is not met. Mr Hain was speaking ahead of a meeting with Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern at Hillsborough Castle.
Mr Hain said if there was no deal he would implement the new water charges.
However, if a power sharing executive wanted to follow a different policy, the government could help them with that financially, he said.
Speaking about the deadline, Mr Hain said: "The St Andrews legislation leaves absolutely no discretion for me, even if I wanted to display that discretion, to do anything other than restore or dissolve the assembly.
"The prime minister's official spokesman today confirmed that the prime minister was absolutely clear that there would be no other available choice for the parties.
"The prime minister himself made that clear last week."
He also said if the parties wanted to see water charges changed then it was up to them.
"The policy will remain unchanged on water charges and on rates if I remain as secretary of state in charge of these matters," Mr Hain said.
"If the parties take repsonsibility for these matters then they can determine the policy and we I think we might be able to help them determine the policy."
The comments came as assembly members, elected on 7 March, arrived at Stormont to pick up their office keys.The comments came as assembly members, elected on 7 March, arrived at Stormont to pick up their office keys.
Mr Hain is due to meet NI politicians, as well as the Irish Foreign Minister.
It is also expected that Treasury officials will travel to Northern Ireland to meet the parties for talks on a possible financial package for the new executive.
In his letter, Mr Hain told party leaders that the March deadline was fixed in law and that the assembly would be dissolved and the politicians pay would end if there was no deal by then.In his letter, Mr Hain told party leaders that the March deadline was fixed in law and that the assembly would be dissolved and the politicians pay would end if there was no deal by then.
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Package
When he meets Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern, the pair are likely to discuss any Irish input into an economic package for a restored Executive. Meanwhile, Treasury officials will travel to Northern Ireland to meet the parties for talks on a possible financial package for the new executive.
If Stormont is not restored, the government warned that it intends to press ahead with the introduction both of water charges and the new rates system. Mr Hain met with Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionists and Alliance on Monday and will meet with the DUP and Sinn Fein on Tuesday.
After meeting the secretary of state, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he wanted water charges to be abolished as party of any economic peace dividend.After meeting the secretary of state, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he wanted water charges to be abolished as party of any economic peace dividend.
Mr Adams said the parties stood a chance of making progress in these matters if they could convince the Treasury they were ready to take their places in a new power sharing executive.Mr Adams said the parties stood a chance of making progress in these matters if they could convince the Treasury they were ready to take their places in a new power sharing executive.
The 108 MLAs will sign the assembly roll on Tuesday.The 108 MLAs will sign the assembly roll on Tuesday.
If a power-sharing executive is formed it will have four DUP ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP.If a power-sharing executive is formed it will have four DUP ministers, three Sinn Fein, two UUP and one SDLP.
The seven-member strong Alliance Party will not have a presence in the executive, neither will the Green Party or Progressive Unionist Party, which both won one seat in last Wednesday's election.
One independent candidate was returned, Dr Kieran Deeny, in West Tyrone.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date.The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date.