BBC NEWSAmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific
BBCiNEWS  SPORT  WEATHER  WORLD SERVICE  A-Z INDEX    

BBC News World Edition
 You are in: UK: N Ireland 
News Front Page
Africa
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Middle East
South Asia
UK
England
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Politics
Education
Business
Entertainment
Science/Nature
Technology
Health
-------------
Talking Point
-------------
Country Profiles
In Depth
-------------
Programmes
-------------
BBC Sport
News image
BBC Weather
News image
SERVICES
-------------
News image
EDITIONS
Tuesday, 3 December, 2002, 08:51 GMT
'No progress' on restoring devolution
Power-sharing executive was dissolved in October
Power-sharing executive was dissolved in October
Talks aimed at restoring Northern Ireland's power-sharing government have made little progress, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said.

The province's political institutions were suspended on 14 October following a row over allegations of IRA activity, including intelligence gathering at Stormont.

Mr Adams told a public meeting in Belfast on Monday his party was committed to the peace process.

However, he said there would only be progress if the British and Irish Governments came forward with an implementation plan for honouring commitments on policing, demilitarisation and other aspects of the Good Friday Agreement.

Gerry Adams was addressing a public meeting in Belfast
Gerry Adams was addressing a public meeting in Belfast
Mr Adams said: "So far in our efforts to bring back the institutions there has been no substantive progress.

"And there will not be until the British and Irish Governments come forward with time-framed programmatic implementation plans for those aspects of the Agreement which are their responsibility.

Meanwhile, a number of political parties are to hold talks with the prime minister at Downing Street on Tuesday.

Delegations from the Ulster Unionists, the Progressive Unionist Party and the Alliance Party are due to have separate meetings with Mr Blair.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Ulster Unionist Sir Reg Empey said his party would be expressing its frustration at the current political impasse.

Discussions

Last week, multi-party talks at Stormont aimed at restoring devolution were held at Stormont.

The discussions, which included all the pro-Agreement parties were hosted by the Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy and Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen.

Following the collapse of power-sharing at Stormont, current legislation dictates that the British and Irish Governments must review the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement on which devolution was based.

But unless some common ground can be found between the parties on how to proceed, there is no mechanism for reinstating Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive.

Both the governments have stressed that there will be no re-negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement.

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
The UUP's Sir Reg Empey:
"We want to know what the prime minister means when he says he will insist on acts of completion"
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams:
"So far there has been no substantive progress in the current talks"
Find out more about the latest moves in the Northern Ireland peace process

Devolution crisis

Analysis

Background

SPECIAL REPORT: IRA

TALKING POINT

AUDIO VIDEO
See also:

28 Nov 02 | N Ireland
15 Oct 02 | N Ireland
21 Nov 02 | N Ireland
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more N Ireland stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more N Ireland stories

© BBC^^ Back to top

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East |
South Asia | UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature |
Technology | Health | Talking Point | Country Profiles | In Depth |
Programmes