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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Hain hails DUP power-sharing move | Hain hails DUP power-sharing move |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has hailed an agreement by the DUP to commit to a firm date for entering government with Sinn Fein. | Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has hailed an agreement by the DUP to commit to a firm date for entering government with Sinn Fein. |
| "It's never happened before, it's of huge historic significance," he said. | "It's never happened before, it's of huge historic significance," he said. |
| The DUP has agreed to share power with Sinn Fein - if the government delays its devolution deadline by six weeks. | The DUP has agreed to share power with Sinn Fein - if the government delays its devolution deadline by six weeks. |
| Mr Hain insisted that Stormont would be dissolved if Monday's deadline was not met - but said if parties could agree an alternative, he was open to that. | Mr Hain insisted that Stormont would be dissolved if Monday's deadline was not met - but said if parties could agree an alternative, he was open to that. |
| "Devolution tomorrow or dissolution follows," he said. | "Devolution tomorrow or dissolution follows," he said. |
| 'Persuasion' | 'Persuasion' |
| "We can either do it our way as a government - which is the way we've suggested, and we've made huge progress - or the parties can do it their own way. There isn't any other alternative." | "We can either do it our way as a government - which is the way we've suggested, and we've made huge progress - or the parties can do it their own way. There isn't any other alternative." |
| Mr Hain has signed an order restoring power to the Stormont assembly, despite the DUP's decision not to nominate ministers to a power-sharing executive on Monday. | |
| On Saturday, the DUP's ruling executive overwhelmingly passed a resolution offering a definite date, in May, for going into government with Sinn Fein. | On Saturday, the DUP's ruling executive overwhelmingly passed a resolution offering a definite date, in May, for going into government with Sinn Fein. |
| Ian Paisley said his party will share power, but not this week | Ian Paisley said his party will share power, but not this week |
| "The Ulster people will be persuaded, they will not be driven," party leader Ian Paisley told reporters after the meeting. | "The Ulster people will be persuaded, they will not be driven," party leader Ian Paisley told reporters after the meeting. |
| The party said it was willing to bridge the gap between now and then with preparatory work, "including departmental pre-briefings and finalising a programme for government". | The party said it was willing to bridge the gap between now and then with preparatory work, "including departmental pre-briefings and finalising a programme for government". |
| It said it wanted the extra time "to raise the level of confidence in the community and instil a positive attitude towards devolution and local control". | It said it wanted the extra time "to raise the level of confidence in the community and instil a positive attitude towards devolution and local control". |
| Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said the DUP was seeking to "frustrate the will of the electorate". | Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said the DUP was seeking to "frustrate the will of the electorate". |
| "If the DUP wants a functioning assembly after 26 March this can only happen through direct dialogue and agreement with Sinn Fein and the other parties," he said. | "If the DUP wants a functioning assembly after 26 March this can only happen through direct dialogue and agreement with Sinn Fein and the other parties," he said. |
| "In the meantime the two governments must now proceed to put in place their all-Ireland partnership arrangements." | "In the meantime the two governments must now proceed to put in place their all-Ireland partnership arrangements." |
| Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said if the DUP needed time it should just nominate ministers then have the assembly go into easter recess. | Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said if the DUP needed time it should just nominate ministers then have the assembly go into easter recess. |
| "Throughout the election campaign the DUP said its approach to devolution was condition led not calendar led. | "Throughout the election campaign the DUP said its approach to devolution was condition led not calendar led. |
| Financial package | Financial package |
| "Now, however, the DUP executive says it will share power with Sinn Fein on a specific date in May," he said. | "Now, however, the DUP executive says it will share power with Sinn Fein on a specific date in May," he said. |
| "This is a further U-turn. What difference does six weeks make?" | "This is a further U-turn. What difference does six weeks make?" |
| Mr Paisley held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair twice within 48 hours this week. | Mr Paisley held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair twice within 48 hours this week. |
| After the second meeting, Downing Street reiterated that Monday's deadline stood. | After the second meeting, Downing Street reiterated that Monday's deadline stood. |
| Mr Paisley said a "great deal of ground" had been covered. | Mr Paisley said a "great deal of ground" had been covered. |
| However, he earlier said a financial package offered by Chancellor Gordon Brown did not meet Northern Ireland's economic needs. | However, he earlier said a financial package offered by Chancellor Gordon Brown did not meet Northern Ireland's economic needs. |
| Mr Brown has promised an extra £1bn if devolution is back on Monday. | Mr Brown has promised an extra £1bn if devolution is back on Monday. |
| The cash is on top of £35bn promised by the government over four years. | The cash is on top of £35bn promised by the government over four years. |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended since October 2002, amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at Stormont. | 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. | A subsequent court case collapsed. Direct rule has been in place since that date. |