TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen and British prime minister Gordon Brown are poised to return to Hillsborough amid increasing expectation of a deal between Sinn Féin and the DUP today on the questions of justice, parading and the future of the Assembly itself.
Sources from various Stormont parties yesterday indicated “significant progress” had been made following particularly intense and direct engagement between Sinn Féin and the DUP at Hillsborough on Saturday. These had provided a “basis to move forward”.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said yesterday: “I am happy to say we have made significant progress. Institutions which don’t deliver are worthless and something I will not be involved in.”
Speaking in Derry at the 38th annual Bloody Sunday commemoration, Mr McGuinness added: “I now hope we have a basis upon which nationalists, republicans, unionists and loyalists will move forward together on the basis of partnership and equality.
“There is no other realistic or viable path available.”
DUP Minister Sammy Wilson said: “Once we get talking tomorrow hopefully we can get the rest of the things sorted out.”
Referring to some of the more difficult issues which have been sticking points, understood to be mechanisms for handling contentious parades, Mr Wilson added: “We are happier now we have a resolution.”
Sources in both parties declined to give details about where there were matters still outstanding, but these are not understood to be insurmountable.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward, who have jointly chaired some 100 hours of talks at Hillsborough, return today for what both Dublin and London hope will be a final and successful session of talks. Mr Woodward last night briefed Gordon Brown in London on the weekend’s developments before returning to Hillsborough in the early hours of this morning.
British and Irish government sources, while declining to be definitive on the likelihood of a successful outcome and on the travel plans of both premiers, nonetheless spoke of the significant steps taken by Sinn Féin and the DUP during talks on Saturday.
“The impetus and the mood improved,” one said. “There was no sign of slippage. We are in a very good place.” Another admitted that the decision to take yesterday as a rest day was indicative of the confidence the governments feel about returning to Hillsborough to conclude a deal after the protracted talks of last week, during which the mood swung between expectation and pessimism.
Both governments are keen to portray their part in the talks as one of assistance, pointing to any deal as the product of talks between the parties dealing directly with each other.