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02/10/2008
North-South Summit In Doubt As NI Executive Fails To Meet
The DUP and Sinn Fein are still at loggerheads over the timescale of the devolution of policing and justice, with the latter refusing to attend 'Cabinet' meetings until the matter is resolved.
A North-South Ministerial Council meeting scheduled for Friday is now also in doubt too.
While the top politicians Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness sat side-by-side on Wednesday afternoon at a Stormont Committee meeting, where both reaffirmed their commitment to make the Executive work, Mr McGuinness said it was still "highly unlikely" today's stalled NI Executive would happen - even though it is now three and a half months since it last met.
Earlier, Mr Robinson had offered an 'open agenda' for an Executive meeting where all issues would be up for discussion.
But, Sinn Féin is insisting on prior "agreement between the First and Deputy First Minister on what papers should go forward" before any long-awaited and now (again) postponed NI Executive meeting can take place.
Ironically, the First and Deputy First Ministers said yesterday "they will work to break the current stalemate" at Stormont, with Mr McGuinness insisting he was not going to give up on finding a solution.
"This is not something that we are going to fall out about," he told Committee members.
"I do not think the First Minister and myself are 'huffers'" - we are not going to go into a corner and give up on the process," he said, but there are now also doubts over whether or not the planned North-South Ministerial Council meeting, which was supposed to go ahead on Friday will take place.
First Minister Peter Robinson said he wanted all of the Stormont institutions to work properly.
"I think that it would be unfortunate if we were to be stalling the work of any of the institutions," he said.
(BMcC)
A North-South Ministerial Council meeting scheduled for Friday is now also in doubt too.
While the top politicians Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness sat side-by-side on Wednesday afternoon at a Stormont Committee meeting, where both reaffirmed their commitment to make the Executive work, Mr McGuinness said it was still "highly unlikely" today's stalled NI Executive would happen - even though it is now three and a half months since it last met.
Earlier, Mr Robinson had offered an 'open agenda' for an Executive meeting where all issues would be up for discussion.
But, Sinn Féin is insisting on prior "agreement between the First and Deputy First Minister on what papers should go forward" before any long-awaited and now (again) postponed NI Executive meeting can take place.
Ironically, the First and Deputy First Ministers said yesterday "they will work to break the current stalemate" at Stormont, with Mr McGuinness insisting he was not going to give up on finding a solution.
"This is not something that we are going to fall out about," he told Committee members.
"I do not think the First Minister and myself are 'huffers'" - we are not going to go into a corner and give up on the process," he said, but there are now also doubts over whether or not the planned North-South Ministerial Council meeting, which was supposed to go ahead on Friday will take place.
First Minister Peter Robinson said he wanted all of the Stormont institutions to work properly.
"I think that it would be unfortunate if we were to be stalling the work of any of the institutions," he said.
(BMcC)
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Calls For Stormont Opposition Unveiled
A government paper given to the Northern Ireland Assembly last week, reveals that a Stormont opposition could be in place by March of next year. According to a report by the BBC, the paper calls for official recognition of opposition parties, who would be "entitled to ministerial positions in the executive, but choose not to take them up".
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A government paper given to the Northern Ireland Assembly last week, reveals that a Stormont opposition could be in place by March of next year. According to a report by the BBC, the paper calls for official recognition of opposition parties, who would be "entitled to ministerial positions in the executive, but choose not to take them up".
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Justice Rift Goes Public
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Justice Rift Goes Public
The growing rift between Stormont's top politicians, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness over policing and justice entered the public domain yesterday for the first time. Tensions between the First and Deputy First Ministers are believed to have been simmering for some time.
01 October 2008
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 plac
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 plac
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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.
