Governments schedule roundtable talks with assembly parties

The British and Irish Governments have invited Northern Ireland's political parties to roundtable talks in Parliament Buildings as part of the review following the suspension of devolved government.

The Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy and the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen will jointly chair the meetings, and each party will be able to send up to two representatives to the meeting. The talks are scheduled to be held at Stormont Buildings at 10.30am on Thursday November 21.

The devolved government was suspended by then Secretary of State John Reid on October 14 following the police raid on Sinn Fein's Stormont offices and allegations of a republican spy-ring at the Northern Ireland Office. A suspension already looked probable prior to the police raids as the First Minister, and UUP leader, David Trimble threatened to pull his ministers out of the executive over the lack of progress in paramilitary disbandment.

All the major political parties have since issued statements backing the return of devolved government – although any restoration would seem unlikely until after the next assembly elections set for May 2003.

Under the terms of reference for a review, the British and Irish governments are obliged to invite participating parties in the assembly to talks.

In a joint statement, Mr Cowen and Mr Murphy, said: "Following the suspension of devolved government in Northern Ireland, we need to review how political progress can be resumed.

"We believe it would now be useful to hold a meeting of all the Assembly parties."

The statement went on: "We envisage that each party would have an opportunity to outline the key issues they believe are involved in resolving the current difficulties. "As the Prime Minister and Taoiseach said in their joint statement following suspension, it is clear that devolved government cannot be made to work effectively in circumstances where there has been a breakdown of trust between those involved. We see the principal purpose of the meeting as being to enable each party to indicate what it sees as the issues requiring resolution and advancement if the current difficulties are to be overcome.

"We need to focus on the key issues early, with a view to re-establishing conditions for devolved government in advance of the scheduled Assembly elections. Following the views expressed at the meeting and taking into account any areas of agreement identified, we will - in consultation with the parties - consider how matters should be taken forward."

(GMcG)