The SDLP will today publish detailed proposals for a 10-member commission, accountable to the Assembly, as an interim form of devolution. Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor, reports.
Mr Mark Durkan, the party leader, outlined the idea to the two governments at the end of a meeting of the Belfast Agreement review held in Stormont yesterday.
The party's plan would entail the appointment of 10 unelected professionals to head up the North's government departments and who would be accountable to a restored Assembly.
Two of the appointees would also act as caretaker First and Deputy First Ministers, pending efforts to restore the establishment of a restored power-sharing executive.
Such civic administrators would also be empowered to transact North-South business and activate British-Irish aspects of the Belfast Agreement.
"We want to end direct rule, we want to send direct rule ministers back to Westminster where they belong," Mr Durkan said yesterday. "We want to get the North-South agenda running again. We want to push politics forward. Our proposals will achieve all these things and more."
Sinn Féin immediately criticised the plan as a "serious mistake", branding it a departure from the Belfast Agreement and providing cover for anti-agreement parties.
Mr Alex Maskey accused the SDLP of "losing its nerve" at a time when he claimed Sinn Féin had secured new momentum from the British and Irish governments to renew efforts to implement the agreement.
Ms Bairbre de Brún added: "The focus gained over the past number of weeks is the way to proceed. It is in the interests of all of the pro-agreement parties to bring about an inclusive talks process aimed at achieving the full implementation of the agreement."
However, Mr Durkan countered, saying of his proposals: "They are not about departing from the agreement in any way. They are about getting as much of the agreement now as we can - and still working to get all of it."
He added: "They are about ending suspension and getting the North-South agenda working for the benefit of everyone on this island."
British sources talked up the possibility of intensive efforts to restore devolution following the European elections in June and before the loyalist marching season peaks in July. While awaiting the detail of the SDLP plan, the initial British reaction was neither strongly for nor against.
Mr Durkan said political movement was imperative because the alternative could spell the demise of the agreement.
"This process is in a rut," he said. "And the only difference between a rut and a grave is depth."
Yesterday's session of the review, which has been subjected to reversals and walkouts since February 3rd, will be the last until after the June elections.