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| Church-DUP discussions 'positive' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| DUP leader Ian Paisley and Ireland's most senior Catholic cleric have described their first formal talks as positive. | |
| Mr Paisley, moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church, met Archbishop of Armagh Dr Sean Brady at Stormont. | Mr Paisley, moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church, met Archbishop of Armagh Dr Sean Brady at Stormont. |
| Speaking afterwards, Dr Brady described the discussions as "helpful and constructive". | Speaking afterwards, Dr Brady described the discussions as "helpful and constructive". |
| Mr Paisley said they had "a very good and useful exchange of views across a range of issues". Both men shook hands. | |
| The DUP leader said his party looked forward "to further discussions with Archbishop Brady and his colleagues in the coming months". | |
| The meeting comes just two days before multi-party talks in St Andrews, Scotland, aimed at brokering a deal on devolution and policing. | The meeting comes just two days before multi-party talks in St Andrews, Scotland, aimed at brokering a deal on devolution and policing. |
| Mr Paisley said: "Our topics of discussion were social, economic and political. | |
| "I welcome the opportunity that this meeting has provided. | |
| "We have had a very good and useful exchange of views across a range of issues. | |
| "It is in the interests of everyone to develop the foundations for stability and prosperity for all the people of Northern Ireland." | |
| Dr Brady said it confirmed for him that everyone had a part to play in creating a more stable and prosperous future. | Dr Brady said it confirmed for him that everyone had a part to play in creating a more stable and prosperous future. |
| "I firmly believe that such a future is within our grasp if each one of us can find the courage to take account of the needs of the other, and not just those of our own community," he said. | "I firmly believe that such a future is within our grasp if each one of us can find the courage to take account of the needs of the other, and not just those of our own community," he said. |
| DUP said there would be further talks with Dr Brady | |
| "I think that real peace will come only when we focus on the common good of all of our society and not just on sectional interest." | "I think that real peace will come only when we focus on the common good of all of our society and not just on sectional interest." |
| Dr Brady said he discussed the need to develop support for law and order and he prayed that the coming months would bring "a more democratically accountable and stable society". | Dr Brady said he discussed the need to develop support for law and order and he prayed that the coming months would bring "a more democratically accountable and stable society". |
| The DUP said the meeting was one of a series being held with church leaders. | The DUP said the meeting was one of a series being held with church leaders. |
| Mr Paisley's decision to meet Dr Brady was welcomed by nationalists. | Mr Paisley's decision to meet Dr Brady was welcomed by nationalists. |
| 'Famously denounced Pope' | |
| The DUP delegation included deputy leader Peter Robinson and MPs Nigel Dodds and Gregory Campbell. | The DUP delegation included deputy leader Peter Robinson and MPs Nigel Dodds and Gregory Campbell. |
| The archbishop's delegation included Bishop Francis Lagan, the auxiliary bishop of Derry, and Father Timothy Bartlett, secretary to the Northern Bishops. | The archbishop's delegation included Bishop Francis Lagan, the auxiliary bishop of Derry, and Father Timothy Bartlett, secretary to the Northern Bishops. |
| BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said Archbishop Brady had wanted to address a range of issues at the meeting. | |
| "They include sectarianism, racism, the political process and ethical questions like abortion and euthanasia. | "They include sectarianism, racism, the political process and ethical questions like abortion and euthanasia. |
| "As the moderator of the Free Presbyterian church, Ian Paisley once famously denounced the Pope as an anti-Christ. | "As the moderator of the Free Presbyterian church, Ian Paisley once famously denounced the Pope as an anti-Christ. |
| The DUP is also meeting the Independent Monitoring Commission on Monday to discuss its latest report on IRA activity. | |
| Separately, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will meet Sinn Fein and the SDLP in Dublin. |