Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British prime minister Tony Blair launched the St Andrews negotiations last night by insisting Northern Ireland's politicians had reached "decision time" over a powersharing devolution settlement, writes Frank Millar, in St Andrews, Scotland
Each of the parties made a statement at the opening plenary session but there was no "exchange" of views. The Democratic Unionist Party entered the talks seemingly still confident it can break the November 24th deadline set by the governments for agreement on all the outstanding issues.
Party leader the Rev Ian Paisley brushed off Northern Secretary Peter Hain's demand for "a 100 per cent deal" by that date. Asked if deadlines mattered, Dr Paisley told reporters: "Not to us."
He said he told Mr Hain before leaving London he was less interested in deadlines than in "delivery". And he defined "delivery" in terms of a republican commitment "to obey the law and support the police" and for the IRA to hand back "its ill-gotten gains".
Dr Paisley said he was not in Scotland to argue or debate with Sinn Féin. "We are here to listen - if they are going to deliver."
Following his statement on the subject in Belfast on Tuesday night, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams again asserted that republicans had an entitlement to accountable and representative civic policing. And he insisted "none of these are insurmountable problems" as he affirmed Sinn Féin's commitment to the re-establishment of the institutions of the Belfast Agreement by the November deadline.
Mr Adams side-stepped questions about the possible timing of a special Sinn Féin ardfheis on the policing issue, but when asked about the importance of the proposed eventual devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly, Mr Adams confirmed it was "crucial".
DUP sources maintain any deal to restore a powersharing Executive requires, among other things, an "up-front" endorsement of the Police Service of Northern Ireland by Sinn Féin, not tied to any conditions about a timetable for the transfer of policing powers.
Dr Paisley won the qualified endorsement of Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey for this position. Sir Reg said he could detect "no great appetite" among members of the public for the devolution of policing and justice powers.
"We will look very closely to see what inducements are offered Sinn Féin to do what they should do anyway," he warned.
However, Sir Reg subsequently said he believed Mr Adams would have difficulty convening an ardfheis to win backing for the PSNI unless satisfied the DUP would enter into government. This reflected his earlier assertion that the two issues to be decided by November were policing "and whether Ian Paisley is prepared to share power with Sinn Féin in the institutions of the Belfast Agreement".
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said his party's St Andrews mission was to preserve the 1998 accord, declaring this "catch-up time for the DUP and Sinn Féin". Mr Durkan said the talks must be about meeting the twin requirements of "an inclusive democracy" and of "the lawful society".
Meanwhile, in the House of Commons, Mr Hain appeared to rule out the return of legislation granting an effective "amnesty" to fugitive or "on-the-run" (OTR) paramilitaries. Pressed by DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson for assurance "that no other procedure" would be used to allow OTRs to return, Mr Hain replied: "There is no prospect for an amnesty."