The Stormont programme for government committee, whose first meeting was dramatically postponed days after the St Andrews Agreement, finally meets this morning, writes Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor
Northern Secretary Peter Hain called off the meeting scheduled for October 17th as the difficulty over a ministerial pledge of support for the PSNI and the rule of law developed between Sinn Féin and the DUP.
A reliable Stormont source indicated to The Irish Times last night that the British government was confident the delayed meeting would go ahead this morning.
However the DUP delegation, it is understood, will be led by Peter Robinson and not party leader the Rev Ian Paisley, thus avoiding direct negotiation between Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and Dr Paisley.
The meeting, to be held in private between the Ulster Unionists, DUP, SDLP and Sinn Féin, kicks off a week packed with key political meetings in advance of Friday's meeting of the "Transitional" Assembly and the nomination of a First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Mr Hain will be in Westminster for the readings of last week's emergency Bill designed to give effect to the St Andrews Agreement. The legislation is due to pass its House of Commons stages tomorrow and the House of Lords on Wednesday.
Today's meeting at Stormont takes place amid warnings from the British and Irish governments that the leading nationalist and unionist parties must meet key challenges.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said yesterday there were no credible reasons left for the two main parties not to do business with each other.
"Lasting accommodation demands two moves now," he said. "One, a move on powersharing by the DUP. Two, support for policing by Sinn Féin. Both acts are necessary and overdue, both are a test of leadership for the respective parties."
Speaking in Co Cork, Mr Ahern warned: "Sometimes parties have to make tough decisions in the wider interest. This is one of those times. If they fail to rise to the challenge of devolved government there will be no election in March, the Assembly will close and the governments move to Plan B [ involving continued direct rule with greater North-South involvement]." He said he believed a devolved government would be formed.
Mr Hain also warned that efforts to establish powersharing at Stormont were tantamount to a "political end game". He said the North had been transformed, but that "politicians haven't caught up with that change". He stressed the importance of Friday's meeting to nominate Dr Paisley and Martin McGuinness as First Minister and Deputy First Minister.