The North's politicians will betray their voters if they fail to form a power sharing government by November 24th, a senior nationalist warned today.
SDLP negotiator Sean Farren told the Glencree summer school in Co Wicklow that after a bad start the Stormont committee, tasked with preparing for government, had set about its work in a business-like manner and with less bitterness than before.
However the former Stormont finance minister said it was too early to predict whether the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein would be able to set aside their differences and form a devolved government.
"If we're not to go down in history as the politicians who spurned the best means ever to build a new Ireland, to create harmonious relations between Orange and Green within the North and across Ireland as a whole, we need to openly and honestly grasp the opportunity we now have to restore the Good Friday Agreement - an opportunity which will only last until November 24," he said.
"Current discussions in the Preparation for Government committee have — after a bad start — got down to work at least in a business-like way and with less of the acrimony between SF and the DUP that characterised that start.
"But whether or not all the issues will be resolved in a manner that will make restoration possible is difficult to say.
The Taoiseach Vertie ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have given the Assembly parties until November 24th to strike a deal which will enable the province's politicians to exercise power through a devolved government. However the obstacles to power sharing remain considerable.
The DUP insists it will not be bounced into a government in November featuring Sinn Fein if there is no proof that the Provisional IRA has ended all criminality and paramilitary activity.
In the opening address to the summer school, senior DUP MP Gregory Campbell insisted yesterday Sinn Fein would also have to endorse the current system of policing in Northern Ireland and encourage its supporters to co-operate with the police if it was to be a credible partner in government.
Mr Farren said the involvement of all parties in the Preparation for Government Committee was a welcome departure from the British and
However he said if there was to be a successful outcome in their bid to restore power sharing, all parties must honour their obligations together instead of taking part in a series of choreographed moves.
Irish Government's tendency in recent years to focus exclusively on talks with the province's 'problem parties'.