Acrimony and confusion at start of Northern Ireland talks

Talks at ending the logjam that is threatening the future of the Stormont institutions finally began today amid a background of some acrimony and confusion.

While the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and British prime minister David Cameron urged the parties to "engage constructively" in the negotiations First Minister Peter Robinson and the DUP refused to attend the first round-table session of the talks this morning.

Mr Robinson had described the opening talks session as a “circus act for the media” and a “showpiece”.

The party's chief whip Peter Weir appeared to link the DUP's refusal to attend the opening talks at Stormont House on the Stormont estate to the attendance of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan at the start first plenary session of the talks.

Mr Weir said the DUP would engage in a bilateral meeting with the Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers this afternoon to "get down to substantive business" but would not be at the round-table talks.

"We will not be engaging with the Irish Government about matters that are exclusively internal Northern Ireland affairs. No self-respecting unionist will be present in any meeting to discuss internal Northern Ireland business where a seat at the table is given to the Irish representatives," said Mr Weir.

The North Down Assembly member said however the DUP would engage with the Government on strand two North-South matters.

“As on previous occasions we will talk to the Irish Government on issues where there is a clear basis to do so. There are many appropriate areas of co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic that are of benefit to both our countries,” he said.

Earlier this week Jim Allister of the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice party, which has been threatening some of the DUP vote, had opposed the presence of Dublin politicians or representatives at Parliament Buildings in Stormont.

The DUP and Mr Weir in his statement laboured on this point by welcoming the fact that the talks are being held at Stormont House rather than Parliament Buildings.

“There could be no question of a permanent presence for the Irish Government in the building during any talks.

“Indeed, whilst others within the last 24 hours have been issuing press statements about the matter, it was the DUP that acted to ensure the building is the preserve of the members elected,” said Mr Weir.

Before entering the talks this morning Mr Flanagan, in line with comments from the Taoiseach and British prime minister, called for constructive engagement.

He said agreement could only be reached by the parties themselves but defended the Government’s presence at the negotiations.

“In our roles as co-guarantors of the Good Friday and St Andrews agreements, the two governments have an important role to play in encouraging and facilitating such agreement. The Irish Government is fully committed to discharging an enabling and supportive role throughout the talks,” said Mr Flanagan.

The talks are being chaired by Northern Secretary Ms Villiers. Today’s discussions were designed to agree an agenda for the negotiations which have an effective pre-Christmas deadline.

A British general election will be held next May and it is likely that by the New Year Northern politicians will be in pre-election mode and not in a mood to reach the compromises that are necessary for the negotiations to succeed.

There was some confusion this morning over what will be on the agenda. The main issues at dispute at the moment are welfare reform, parades, the past and flags and the possible restructuring - or reducing in size - of the Northern Executive and the Assembly.

Parties may attempt to add other issues to what already is a long agenda. They could include the Irish language, proposals for a peace and reconciliation centre at the Maze prison size, gaining nationalist support for the British National Crime Agency, and restoring the short-lived Civic Forum that was established in 2000 to advise the Executive and Assembly.