Menu
09/02/2004
Murphy chairs first GFA working sessions
Secretary of State Paul Murphy today chaired the first working sessions of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement review.
The meeting, which took place at Stormont, follows last week's roundtable opening session which saw the main local political parties read statements outlining their positions.
While Mr Murphy maintained that the parties wanted a return to devolution, there was, as ever, disagreement's about how this should come about.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said that the underlying problem with the current deadlock was the failure of the IRA to engage in acts of completion.
“Unless there are meaningful, confidence-building acts of completion there is no real prospect of progress in these review sessions. In fact the review can only serve to mask the underlying problem," he said.
However, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said the spotlight should not be on decommissioning but about better delivery of the Agreement.
The DUP, however, want to see a radical overhaul of the Agreement and are seeking to find a means to achieve this goal. Deputy leader of the DUP Peter Robinson said that the party had an agenda that would allow all the issues to be discussed during the review talks.
The SDLP leader Mark Durkan said he was not prepared to accept a review process that involved "private deals".
The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in October 2002 following an alleged republican spy-ring within Stormont.
(MB)
The meeting, which took place at Stormont, follows last week's roundtable opening session which saw the main local political parties read statements outlining their positions.
While Mr Murphy maintained that the parties wanted a return to devolution, there was, as ever, disagreement's about how this should come about.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said that the underlying problem with the current deadlock was the failure of the IRA to engage in acts of completion.
“Unless there are meaningful, confidence-building acts of completion there is no real prospect of progress in these review sessions. In fact the review can only serve to mask the underlying problem," he said.
However, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said the spotlight should not be on decommissioning but about better delivery of the Agreement.
The DUP, however, want to see a radical overhaul of the Agreement and are seeking to find a means to achieve this goal. Deputy leader of the DUP Peter Robinson said that the party had an agenda that would allow all the issues to be discussed during the review talks.
The SDLP leader Mark Durkan said he was not prepared to accept a review process that involved "private deals".
The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in October 2002 following an alleged republican spy-ring within Stormont.
(MB)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
18 February 2010
Policing Devolution On Stormont Agenda
The devolution of powers over justice and policing to NI is firmly back on the political agenda today. The Stormont Assembly and Executive Review Committee - which has been carrying out long-running investigations into how a Justice Department should operate - will meet Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward this morning.
Policing Devolution On Stormont Agenda
The devolution of powers over justice and policing to NI is firmly back on the political agenda today. The Stormont Assembly and Executive Review Committee - which has been carrying out long-running investigations into how a Justice Department should operate - will meet Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward this morning.
23 November 2006
Minister welcomes Bain report on legal services
The Finance Minister, David Hanson, has today promised that the government will consider carefully the recommendations of a report into the regulation of legal services in Northern Ireland. The report by the Legal Services Review Group, ‘Legal Services in Northern Ireland: Complaints, Regulation, Competition’ was published today.
Minister welcomes Bain report on legal services
The Finance Minister, David Hanson, has today promised that the government will consider carefully the recommendations of a report into the regulation of legal services in Northern Ireland. The report by the Legal Services Review Group, ‘Legal Services in Northern Ireland: Complaints, Regulation, Competition’ was published today.
03 February 2004
Good Friday Agreement review begins
Northern Ireland's main political parties have commenced an attempt at the restoration of the devolved power-sharing political institutions today.
Good Friday Agreement review begins
Northern Ireland's main political parties have commenced an attempt at the restoration of the devolved power-sharing political institutions today.
19 January 2004
NI parties seek to influence GFA Review agenda
Ahead of the review of the Good Friday Agreement on February 3, the main political parties have been outlining their strategies today. Sinn Féin's Good Friday Agreement Review team leader, Newry and Armagh MLA Conor Murphy, reiterated his party leader's call for a review focused on the implementation of the Agreement.
NI parties seek to influence GFA Review agenda
Ahead of the review of the Good Friday Agreement on February 3, the main political parties have been outlining their strategies today. Sinn Féin's Good Friday Agreement Review team leader, Newry and Armagh MLA Conor Murphy, reiterated his party leader's call for a review focused on the implementation of the Agreement.
21 March 2008
Change Assembly Voting: Mallon
Ten years on from the signing of the Belfast Agreement, one of the main contributors to its construction has said he would radically change the voting system at Stormont.
Change Assembly Voting: Mallon
Ten years on from the signing of the Belfast Agreement, one of the main contributors to its construction has said he would radically change the voting system at Stormont.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
