06/11/2002

All-party talks on the agenda following ministerial meeting

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Paul Murphy and Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen are expected to announce details of fresh all-party talks next week following their first ever meeting in Dublin today.

Both ministers discussed their attempts to end the current political crisis and are to meet again next week, after which details of the all-party talks will be revealed.

The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on October 14 by the then Secretary of State Dr John Reid due to a crisis of confidence over alleged IRA spying activities within the NIO.

The meeting with Brian Cowen was Mr Murphy's first in his capacity as Northern Ireland Secretary of State. It also follows his recent round of talks with local political parties following his appointment as Secretary of State two weeks ago.

Mr Cowen, meanwhile, has met delegations from some of the Northern Ireland parties, including the SDLP.

The Irish Foreign minister is due to meet the Ulster Unionists and some of the smaller pro-Agreement parties in Belfast on Friday.

(MB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 March 2010
Pensions Review Reduces Qualifying Period
Pension reforms just announced are to make the overall system fairer.
31 May 2005
£22.5M venture capital fund launched
A new £22.5 million venture capital fund for business development in Northern Ireland has been announced today. Belfast-based Crescent Capital has just completed raising investment for the new fund - known as Crescent Capital II - which will be the largest local source of venture capital available to companies in Northern Ireland.
16 January 2024
DUP Calls On Heaton-Harris To Deliver For Public Sector Workers
The DUP has called on the Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, to work with the NI Civil Service to deliver a fair settlement for public sector workers in Northern Ireland.
02 May 2023
NIO Accused Of 'Playing Politics With Public Services'
The DUP has accused the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) of playing politics with public services in NI. Following the announcement of the NI Budget by Chris Heaton-Harris, DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson told the Secretary of State that "if Stormont returned tomorrow the budgetary pressures will be the same".
15 March 2023
Chris Heaton-Harris In DC For St Patrick's Day
Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris has travelled to Washington DC to mark St. Patrick's Day and engage with key partners in the US on NI issues.