DUP still not committed to power-sharing - Adams

The DUP has still not committed to power-sharing with republicans, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has said today.

Mr Adams was speaking as he updated a special meeting of the party's national executive (Ard Chomhairle) on ongoing discussions with British and Irish Government officials.

The West Belfast MP said: "This morning myself and Martin McGuinness updated the Ard Chomhairle on the current state of the negotiations with the Irish and British governments. Our negotiations team worked late into the night with Dublin and London officials on the points of concern which we raised with them last Wednesday, when we received the governments outline for a comprehensive agreement, and which we have been discussing with them since.

"Sinn Féin's focus has been to get a comprehensive agreement. We want to bring the DUP on board and to ensure that the two governments remain faithful to the Agreement. If we are to be successful in this endeavour then the governments have to work with the pro agreement parties and refuse to give a veto to rejectionist unionism. It also means the DUP entering government with Sinn Féin, sharing power with republicans on the basis of equality and mutual respect.”

The DUP has so far refused to comment on the ongoing situation however the party leadership will brief its executive on the ongoing efforts on Friday night.

Meanwhile, the British Government has described discussions between itself, the Irish Government, Sinn Féin and the DUP in recent days as “serious and constructive”.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said on Thursday that all parties would want to reflect over the coming days, “but time was getting short for people to make up their minds”.

(MB/SP)