DUP meets with Catholic leader

Talks between the Reverend Ian Paisley and Archbishop Sean Brady at Stormont this morning, have been described as “positive.”

Following today's meeting with the DUP delegates, Archbishop Brady said that “a more stable and prosperous future is within Northern Ireland's grasp,” and added that the meeting had been both “helpful” and “constructive.”

Today's meeting was the first to have ever taken place between the DUP and the Catholic Church and was regarded as a highly significant event in the run up to the talks in St Andrews in Scotland, where local politicians and the British and Irish governments will gather to discuss the restoration of an all-party power-sharing assembly.

Today's discussions focused on social, economic and political issues, including poverty, education and support for the family in society, and Archbishop Brady also confirmed that they had discussed efforts to revive devolution and attempts to ensure all sides, including Sinn Fein, support policing.

Archbishop Brady said: "Northern Ireland is fast becoming a more diverse and dynamic society.

"I hope and pray that in the coming months we will also see it become a more democratically accountable and stable society.

"Perhaps then we will be able to unlock the great potential that undoubtedly exists within the people of Northern Ireland and set this place free to become one of the safest, most welcoming and most prosperous parts of the world.”

In a statement released by the DUP leader after the meeting, Mr Paisley said: "It is in the interests of everyone to develop the foundations for stability and prosperity for all the people of Northern Ireland.

"During our discussions we touched on a very wide range of subjects, including the need to address issues of poverty and social need in our province, the necessity to build a strong local economy, the benefits that can be derived for the whole community from achieving stable devolutionary arrangements for Northern Ireland, and developing support for law and order across the community.”

He added: "Today's meeting is the latest in a series with church leaders and civil society and we look forward to further discussions with Archbishop Brady and his colleagues in the coming months."

On Wednesday, talks involving Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will take place in St Andrews in order to give both governments a clear indication whether a deal to bring back devolution can be struck.

(EF/SP)