UUP Walk Out Of Crisis Talks

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) will not be taking part in crisis talks to be continued in Stormont on Wednesday.

The UUP walked out of the talks on Tuesday and the party's leader, Mike Nesbitt, said they will not return until the issue on the status of the IRA has been resolved.

Mr Nesbitt said: "I made clear our participation was dependent on who was involved, the terms of reference, and the agenda items.

"I objected to the agenda being front-loaded with sessions about the Stormont House Agreement, as if Kevin McGuigan had not been murdered, and the PSNI had not identified IRA involvement. 

"I called for the talks to begin with the fact that Sinn Féin, the PSNI and the Government are not on the same page regarding the IRA, its structures and the intelligence that indicates IRA members murdered Kevin McGuigan. Regrettably, there was no support for making that the first point of business."

The DUP is to attend the talks however leader Peter Robinson said if devolution collapsed it would be a decade before it returned.

The talks are to focus on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement.

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has said leadership rather than stunt politics is required to get a resolution to the difficulties in the political process.

Mr Murphy said: "Sinn Féin has entered this talks process in a problem-solving mode to achieve a deal for everyone in our society. This requires leadership from all the political parties and the two governments.

"It's clear however from the off that UUP leader Mike Nesbitt is interested only in stunt politics in his electoral contest with the DUP.

"For our part we are committed to achieving a resolution which will allow us to grow the economy, defend frontline public services and protect the most vulnerable." 

(CD)