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31/01/2007
March assembly election to take place
The Prime Minister has today announced that the March 7 election will go ahead as planned.
The announcement followed yesterday's meeting between Tony Blair and the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, however the Prime Minister warned that the election must result in a devolved government.
Commenting on the election, the Premiers said that it is being held for the explicit purposes of endorsing the St Andrews Agreement and of electing an Assembly that will form a power-sharing executive on March 26, in accordance with that agreement and time-frame.
They said: "If, at any point, it became clear that parties were unwilling to fulfil their commitments in the St Andrews Agreement to the twin pillars of power-sharing on March 26 and support for policing, it would be unreasonable to expect the people of Northern Ireland to continue with an election to an Assembly which would not exist."
Last weekend's decision by Sinn Fein to support policing and Gerry Adam's comments urging the reporting of crime and to join the PSNI has added pressure to the Democratic Unionist Party to agree to getting involved in a new all-party power-sharing assembly and maintain their position as the largest party – with most places in the assembly.
However, Sinn Fein believe that through change, they will be able to make further progress and take over as the largest political parties in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein could face a major challenge from disaffected republicans opposed to their decision on policing.
Yesterday, former IRA prisoner Gerry McGeough officially launched his election campaign in a bid to win the seat for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the election – counting on hard-line republicans to support his campaign.
(EF)
The announcement followed yesterday's meeting between Tony Blair and the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, however the Prime Minister warned that the election must result in a devolved government.
Commenting on the election, the Premiers said that it is being held for the explicit purposes of endorsing the St Andrews Agreement and of electing an Assembly that will form a power-sharing executive on March 26, in accordance with that agreement and time-frame.
They said: "If, at any point, it became clear that parties were unwilling to fulfil their commitments in the St Andrews Agreement to the twin pillars of power-sharing on March 26 and support for policing, it would be unreasonable to expect the people of Northern Ireland to continue with an election to an Assembly which would not exist."
Last weekend's decision by Sinn Fein to support policing and Gerry Adam's comments urging the reporting of crime and to join the PSNI has added pressure to the Democratic Unionist Party to agree to getting involved in a new all-party power-sharing assembly and maintain their position as the largest party – with most places in the assembly.
However, Sinn Fein believe that through change, they will be able to make further progress and take over as the largest political parties in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein could face a major challenge from disaffected republicans opposed to their decision on policing.
Yesterday, former IRA prisoner Gerry McGeough officially launched his election campaign in a bid to win the seat for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the election – counting on hard-line republicans to support his campaign.
(EF)
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Former Sinn Fein member and paramilitary activist John Kelly has died. Mr Kelly, who was a provisional IRA activist, spent 15 years behind bars in both Northern and Southern Ireland. He was a co-defendant in the alleged arms smuggling trial that collapsed with Charles Haughey, who later became Taoiseach.
14 February 2007
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Candidates set for Assembly election show-down
Almost 250 candidates will contest the Northern Ireland Assembly election, to be held on March 7. The expectation is that the elections will result in selection of 108 assembly members who will form a power-sharing executive to sit on March 26. With the list of candidates drawn up, the parties will be moving onto a campaign footing.
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05 January 2007
Hain warns parties not to let progress slip away
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain has warned local politicians not to let devolution slip through their fingers because of the recent dispute over the transfer of policing and justice powers.
Hain warns parties not to let progress slip away
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain has warned local politicians not to let devolution slip through their fingers because of the recent dispute over the transfer of policing and justice powers.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.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.
