SDLP objects to 'shadow' plan

SDLP leader Mark Durkan yesterday told the Taoiseach of his party's objections to a plan to restore the Northern Assembly in "…

SDLP leader Mark Durkan yesterday told the Taoiseach of his party's objections to a plan to restore the Northern Assembly in "shadow form" in an attempt to force the political pace in the North.

The meeting followed reports that the Taoiseach and British prime minister had reached agreement on a joint plan to restore the Northern Assembly in "shadow" form, with a built-in deadline for full restoration conditional on agreement to re-establish the power-sharing Executive.

Mr Durkan led the SDLP delegation to Government Buildings for over an hour of talks with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, on the prospect of getting the North's institutions back up and running.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Durkan said it was clear the SDLP's concerns about the comprehensive agreement were broadly recognised and accepted by the Taoiseach.

"More importantly, we have the Taoiseach saying the comprehensive agreement is not a baseline for progress," he said.

That comprehensive agreement included the idea of a "shadow Assembly" as a step towards establishing a new Northern Executive.

Mr Durkan said the Irish Government was now looking at setting a date for restoration of the institutions and that was a positive step.

DUP leader Ian Paisley has insisted he will not countenance any political proposal from the British and Irish governments that would set a deadline for the restoration of a fully functioning Assembly and Executive.

Dr Paisley said after an hour-long meeting with the North's political development minister, David Hanson, yesterday that he would resist any imposed deadline.

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