A leading Ulster Unionist predicted today that devolution may not be returned to Northern Ireland for a generation.
|
As the Irish and British governments continue efforts to reach agreement between the parties that would see power returned to a power-sharing administration at Stormont and elections to the Assembly in the autumn, Lord Kilclooney said he did not think they would succeed.
The UUP deputy leader said: "I am a bit concerned that there will be no assembly after the autumn because of the stance of Sinn Féin/IRA and because the SDLP will not take a strong line against Sinn Féin.
"Because of that I don't see the possibility of agreement and we are therefore going to have direct rule for perhaps another generation".
The British government is due tomorrow to publish the Bill that will formally scrap the Assembly elections due to have been held on May 29th.
Mr Tony Blair called them off last week because of what he said was the IRA's failure to state clearly what its intentions were over total weapons decommissioning and a complete ending of paramilitary activity. He said he hoped elections would take place in the autumn.
The Bill will also spell out what money will be given to the 108 formerAssembly members.
They have been on two-thirds salary since the assembly was suspended last October amid allegations of an IRA spy ring at the heart of government. It has been predicted they will be given a further reduced 50 per cent salary - £21,000 sterling - for the next six months.
PA