Kenny urges Sinn Féin to help break deadlock on past, parades, flags

Taoiseach Enda Kenny last night urged Sinn Féin leaders to redouble the effort to break the deadlock in the North over the past, parades and flags as talks resume next week.

Mr Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore met last night in Government Buildings with Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and deputy party leader Mary Lou McDonald.

The Taoiseach’s spokesman said he told the Sinn Féin leaders to use their influence to maintain a sense of calm in the North as the loyalist marching season approaches.

Energetically engaged

The spokesman said Mr Kenny also called on Sinn Féin to intensify its leadership in the effort to broker a deal on the past, parades and flags.

Although Mr Adams told reporters it was for the Government in the first instance to hold its British counterpart to account as “co-guarantor” of the peace process, Mr Kenny’s spokesman said Dublin remained very energetically engaged.

“The Government knows its responsibilities and will fulfil them. The Sinn Féin leadership must live up to theirs,” the spokesman said.

Mr Adams insisted there was no doubt about Sinn Féin’s commitment and added that party leaders will meet British prime minister David Cameron next month for their first direct talks.

In spite of the resumption of talks, there is concern about the potential for the situation to be destabilised during marching season.

While retired US diplomat Dr Richard Haass ruled himself out of the latest engagement, Mr McGuinness said Northern leaders had agreed to put in place a new “facilitator”. He is understood to be a senior Northern Ireland civil servant.

“As far as I’m concerned, we’ll continue until either until we succeed or it’s a busted flush,” Mr McGuinness said.

“All of us need to be shouting from the rooftops that the next couple of weeks absolutely need to be peaceful.

Conflict

“The people of the North, the people of Belfast and the people of north Belfast don’t want to see conflict or trouble on the streets over the course of the next couple of weeks.”

Mr Adams said there was a fair amount of scepticism over the possibility of real progress. “I think it’s fair to say that’s justifiable, because there is really no sign thus far that unionist leaders are up for proper talks or proper progress on these issues. But we’ll do our best.”