Menu
09/10/2001
Sinn Féin meet Blair for crisis talks
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness have held crisis talks at Downing Street with the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The breakfast time meeting on Tuesday morning was arranged at Sinn Fein's request in the wake of the announcement made by the Ulster Unionist Party to initiate a phased out withdrawal from the Northern Ireland Executive after their motion to exclude Sinn Féin failed.
Speaking after the 90-minute meeting in which the Secretary of State Dr John Reid attended, Mr Adams said the onus was on all the pro-agreement parties to save the Agreement: “We still have a lot of work to do for all of those who are committed to the Good Friday Agreement. Our focus will be to try and save that Agreement and ensure the process doesn’t collapse. Whether we do that or not will depend upon how collectively we will be able to apply ourselves to our obligations and responsibilities.”
In the Northern Ireland Assembly two motions by the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party to exclude Sinn Féin from the power-sharing executive both failed.
Following the defeat of the motion, UUP leader David Trimble announced that the party would boycott meetings of the executive and withdraw its ministers from the assembly.
The imminent withdrawal of the UUP, currently the largest party in the power-sharing executive, means the institutions will now have to be suspended by the Northern Ireland secretary.
The secretary of state Dr John Reid has this option to step in and suspend the institutions before, or immediately after, the Ulster Unionists withdraw or resign, thereby creating an open-ended suspension and review.
Alternatively he can allow the institutions to collapse which would dissolve the assembly and indicate fresh elections. (AMcE)
The breakfast time meeting on Tuesday morning was arranged at Sinn Fein's request in the wake of the announcement made by the Ulster Unionist Party to initiate a phased out withdrawal from the Northern Ireland Executive after their motion to exclude Sinn Féin failed.
Speaking after the 90-minute meeting in which the Secretary of State Dr John Reid attended, Mr Adams said the onus was on all the pro-agreement parties to save the Agreement: “We still have a lot of work to do for all of those who are committed to the Good Friday Agreement. Our focus will be to try and save that Agreement and ensure the process doesn’t collapse. Whether we do that or not will depend upon how collectively we will be able to apply ourselves to our obligations and responsibilities.”
In the Northern Ireland Assembly two motions by the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party to exclude Sinn Féin from the power-sharing executive both failed.
Following the defeat of the motion, UUP leader David Trimble announced that the party would boycott meetings of the executive and withdraw its ministers from the assembly.
The imminent withdrawal of the UUP, currently the largest party in the power-sharing executive, means the institutions will now have to be suspended by the Northern Ireland secretary.
The secretary of state Dr John Reid has this option to step in and suspend the institutions before, or immediately after, the Ulster Unionists withdraw or resign, thereby creating an open-ended suspension and review.
Alternatively he can allow the institutions to collapse which would dissolve the assembly and indicate fresh elections. (AMcE)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
28 November 2003
SF election candidate in police controversy
Lagan Valley Sinn Féin representative Paul Butler was at the centre of controversy today after his election motorcade was stopped by police following acting on information that one of the vehicles had been stolen in the Irish Republic.
SF election candidate in police controversy
Lagan Valley Sinn Féin representative Paul Butler was at the centre of controversy today after his election motorcade was stopped by police following acting on information that one of the vehicles had been stolen in the Irish Republic.
05 July 2017
SDLP Supports Calls For Stormont Pay Freeze During Talks Delay
The endless delay in Stormont talks is not down to detail, but "narrow party political interest", according to SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood. Mr Eastwood described the latest "pause" announced in Executive talks as "depressing" but said that no-one will be surprised by it, least of all the public.
SDLP Supports Calls For Stormont Pay Freeze During Talks Delay
The endless delay in Stormont talks is not down to detail, but "narrow party political interest", according to SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood. Mr Eastwood described the latest "pause" announced in Executive talks as "depressing" but said that no-one will be surprised by it, least of all the public.
19 August 2024
Doug Beattie Resigns As UUP Leader
Doug Beattie has announced his resignation as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), citing "irreconcilable differences" with party officers.
Doug Beattie Resigns As UUP Leader
Doug Beattie has announced his resignation as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), citing "irreconcilable differences" with party officers.
09 August 2001
Future of devolved NI government hangs in the balance
Despite an IRA’s statement confirming an agreed a scheme with the decommissioning body to put arms completely and verifiably beyond use, the political climate in Northern Ireland far from cooling down, seems to be hotting up. The Ulster Unionist Party have declared that although the IRA statement is significant, they say it doesn’t go far enough.
Future of devolved NI government hangs in the balance
Despite an IRA’s statement confirming an agreed a scheme with the decommissioning body to put arms completely and verifiably beyond use, the political climate in Northern Ireland far from cooling down, seems to be hotting up. The Ulster Unionist Party have declared that although the IRA statement is significant, they say it doesn’t go far enough.
24 September 2001
Unionists draw up Sinn Féin exclusion motion
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has begun drawing up a motion to exclude Sinn Féin from the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive. The motion, which was tabled to be debated on Monday September 24, is expected to take up to three weeks before it reaches the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Unionists draw up Sinn Féin exclusion motion
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has begun drawing up a motion to exclude Sinn Féin from the Northern Ireland power-sharing executive. The motion, which was tabled to be debated on Monday September 24, is expected to take up to three weeks before it reaches the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:All parts will have a dry and rather cloudy day. Chance of some brighter spells breaking through across the east at times. Brisk southwesterly winds. Mild. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:This evening will be dry. The rest of the night will remain mainly dry with a good deal of cloud. A little rain reaching the far west later. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
