Executive Stress Not Relieved

As the leaders of Northern Ireland, First and Deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness prepare to account for their 'actions' when they appear together before a Stormont Committee on the deepening crisis over the devolved institutions, Mr McGuinness has made it clear that Thursday's scheduled Executive meeting won't now take place.

This is despite 'a pre-emptive strike' this morning by the NI First Minister who said he is happy to have an Executive meeting on Thursday with an "open agenda".

Peter Robinson (pictured) said he wanted to "remove the fig leaf" of Sinn Féin's claim that he only wanted to discuss issues that were important to the DUP.

However, a Sinn Féin spokesman dismissed Mr Robinson's offer: "Peter Robinson is desperately trying to come up with any excuse or reason not to enter into an agreement with Martin McGuinness," he said.

According to the spokesman, an NI Executive can only proceed under an agreed agenda and with Government papers dealt with in advance.

The DUP and Sinn Féin clashed initially on Tuesday after Mr McGuinness said it was highly unlikely the long-awaited summit would happen, even though the Ministers have not met since June, amid Sinn Féin's insistence that progress must first be made on devolving justice powers.

The DUP expressed disappointment at the Deputy First Minister's remarks.

However, Mr McGuinness said: "Sinn Féin is not going to play second fiddle to a DUP agenda in these institutions."

"In the course of recent days we have been engaged in a number of discussions with the DUP aimed at agreeing an agenda for an executive meeting on Thursday.

"Agreeing an agenda means that all issues of concern need to be put on the agenda - not simply those of concern to the unionist community or the DUP.

"Despite our efforts this has not succeeded and no progress has been made.

UUP leader Sir Reg Empey accused Sinn Féin of blackmail over its 'blockade' of the Stormont Executive.

DUP Junior Minister Jeffrey Donaldson said it was "disgusting and unacceptable" that Sinn Féin was "preventing a meeting of the Executive at such a crucial time".

"We have a situation where the world financial markets are in crisis, impacting on every household, energy costs are going through the ceiling, and people are wondering how they are going to cope," Mr Donaldson said.

"Elderly people are worried about the winter and how they are going to afford to keep warm - and it is quite frankly a disgrace that the Executive cannot meet to discuss these issues."

The DUP MP said that the latest development also undermined the credibility of the Executive and public confidence.

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness was meanwhile out and about earlier today, when he was addressing an audience of business people, public officials and academics at the 13th Annual Economic Conference held in the Culloden Hotel today.

He told delegates: "This time last year I do not think anyone here could have predicted the conditions of today's global marketplace.

"We really are in unprecedented circumstances. They require all of us, whether in government or the public sector, in banking and finance or striving to grow and develop a business, to hold our nerve and to act responsibly.

"From here on in, the practices that are creating this financial turmoil need to stop and responsible banking must be the watch word."

The Minister added however that it was important not to be overly pessimistic in relation to the economy.

(BMcC)