The Stormont Executive is to meet Assembly members from north Belfast as part of its efforts to find a solution to recent conflict there, including the protests at Holy Cross school in Ardoyne.
Ministers were briefed yesterday on developments in north Belfast. It was the first meeting of the Executive since the reinstatement of Mr David Trimble as First Minister and the election of the SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, as Deputy First Minister last week. The DUP members did not attend.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Mr Trimble said the administration had been involved in efforts to find a solution to the area's problems but declined to detail these, saying only there were many "sensitive issues".
He denied there had been a failure of political leadership so far and stressed the need to work closely with local representatives. The Ardoyne school protest is now in its 11th week.
He said: "People passing and repassing along a major route should be unquestioned, especially if they are children. But not just for children, for others as well. There is a right to freedom of movement."
He refused to be drawn on whether there were parallels with the situation at Drumcree and said there was "a lack of generosity" on the part of the protagonists involved in north Belfast.
Both Mr Trimble and Mr Durkan said they wanted an end to the school protests to facilitate initiatives to ease the area's problems. "We need the path cleared," said Mr Durkan. "We're not going to jump in as First and Deputy First Minister in a show-boating way. What we're going to try to do is support and sponsor efforts that are geared at being successful. We're not going to preach or proclaim the failure of anybody."
Asked about their personal working relationship, Mr Trimble said things between them had not changed since their election and the new relationship was the same as the old one.
Mr Durkan added that they were able to work well while working differently.
"The important thing is that there is business being conducted," said Mr Trimble, "and that it is conducted successfully". He now hoped with a degree of confidence that the administration would continue working until the next Assembly elections in 2003.
Referring to today's visit to the North by Queen Elizabeth, Mr Durkan confirmed he would meet her. He added: "It might be that some people will try to make play against me . . . but I would hazard to predict that those who will do so will be happy to meet the queen or her successor - probably at an event in Dublin."