Ulster Unionists to meet to discuss Haass and O’Sullivan paper on Troubles issues

The Ulster Unionists meet this morning to discuss proposals to address highly contentious issues drawn up by Richard Haass and Meghan O'Sullivan.

The US pair left Belfast a week ago without the cross- party agreement on matters related to flags, parades and addressing the legacy of the Troubles they had spent nearly six months working to achieve. The issues have stymied the Stormont Executive for years.

Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt has said it was only right that his party address the Haass-O'Sullivan proposals internally before making any public commitment.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has pressed both the Ulster Unionists and the DUP to say where they stand. Sinn Féin and the SDLP have both endorsed the paper Dr Haass and Prof O’Sullivan left with the five Stormont Executive parties before their return to the US.

The Alliance Party backs the Haass-O’Sullivan proposals on dealing with the legacy of the Troubles but has issues with other elements of their paper.