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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Hain repeats warning on deadline | Hain repeats warning on deadline |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Hain was speaking ahead of a meeting with Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern at Hillsborough Castle. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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'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." | "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. | 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. | "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 responsibility for these matters then they can determine the policy and I think we might be able to help them determine the policy depending on whether they are serious about restoration or not." | "If the parties take responsibility for these matters then they can determine the policy and I think we might be able to help them determine the policy depending on whether they are serious about restoration or not." |
| Mr Ahern said the Irish government was willing to contribute to a financial package if it was to the mutual benefit of people on both sides of the border. | |
| The comments came after assembly members, elected on 7 March, arrived at Stormont to pick up their office keys. | The comments came after assembly members, elected on 7 March, arrived at Stormont to pick up their office keys. |
| Package | Package |
| Meanwhile, Treasury officials will travel to Northern Ireland to meet the parties for talks on a possible financial package for the new executive. | Meanwhile, Treasury officials will travel to Northern Ireland to meet the parties for talks on a possible financial package for the new executive. |
| Mr Hain met with Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionists and Alliance on Monday and will meet with the DUP and Sinn Fein on Tuesday. | 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 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. |