Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble moved today to dismiss claims that he knew in advance about Irish and British government moves to protect cross border bodies.
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The UUP leader Mr David Trimble who will hold talks withthe Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy in London today.
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As his party and anti-Belfast Agreement unionists continued to protest over recent legislation in the Dáil guaranteeing the continued operation of north south bodies, Mr Trimble complained his party was not consulted about the moves.
After a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary MR Paul Murphy in London, he denied claims by the SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan that both parties had been informed.
"We have recognised that something needed to be done in relation to the implementation bodies upon the suspension of the Assembly," Mr Trimble said.
"But we informed both our own government and the Irish government at separate meetings that they should consult with us as to the precise form of any legislation. This they failed to do.
"At no point were we taken through the new side agreement and the legislation introduced into the Irish parliament.
"We believe the form of the new side agreement is dangerously loose and had we been consulted we would have made our views known very clearly."
Ulster Unionists and anti-Agreement unionists have protested vigorously in recent days about the moves to keep the implementation bodies functioning. The bodies implement cross-border policies in tourism, inland waterways, food safety and other areas.
After a meeting with Mr Murphy in Stormont on Monday, Mr Trimble hinted his party could walk away from the current multi-party talks to restore devolution in protest at the cross-border bodies legislation.
A delegation from the UUP led by former Stormont Economy Minister Sir Reg Empey will meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen in Dublin this evening.
PA