THE meeting due to take place in Belfast yesterday afternoon between the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, and the Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, has been rescheduled for tonight in London.
Sources on both sides stressed there was "absolutely no political significance" in the postponement which was "purely a scheduling problem". A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office said there was "pressure on time at both ends".
The meeting was due to last about 90 minutes, but Dublin sources explained there were transport difficulties due to the Government jet being delayed. It is also understood that Sir Patrick and the North's Minister for Political Development, Mr Michael Ancram, had to leave Belfast early for a House of Commons vote.
The two sides agreed to the postponement because "the time available was too limited to do justice to the items to be discussed", and the pair will meet instead at 9.30 tonight in London.
When the meeting takes place, the Tanaiste is expected to raise the need for the British government to examine new evidence on the Bloody Sunday shootings in 1972. The Irish side is also eager to see the North Report on parades and marches implemented in time for the marching season, and there will also be a discussion of the implications for the Stormont multi party talks arising from the impending British general election.
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