Ahern and Blair to consider talks

NORTHERN IRELAND: The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, meet in Brussels tonight or tomorrow to…

NORTHERN IRELAND: The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, meet in Brussels tonight or tomorrow to decide on whether they should hold talks with the Northern parties next week designed to pave the way for a possible autumn political breakthrough in the peace process.

The two leaders will meet on the margins of the European summit following continuing behind-the-scenes meetings between the governments and the Northern parties, and two days of talks at Stormont in the formal review of the Belfast Agreement.

The Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, who, with the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, met most of the parties at Stormont yesterday, spoke positively about the level of engagement in the review.

These talks are examining matters such as future North-South relations, voting arrangements in any reinstated executive and whether executive ministers should have departmental autonomy or subscribe to cabinet collective responsibility.

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Based on the progress made in both sets of talks, Mr Ahern and Mr Blair will decide whether to hold further talks next week with the parties, most likely either in London or Dublin.

If they take place they are unlikely to lead to an immediate breakthrough but the governments and the parties hope they would allow them set up a streamlined agenda for intense negotiations in the autumn that could lead to the restoration of devolution.

Mr Murphy said yesterday's talks were "very detailed and constructive". On Monday he would present the parties with a report summarising progress.