The "peace dividend" for Northern Ireland is still being worked upon and should satisfy the incoming Stormont executive, Northern Secretary Peter Hain has promised.
Mr Hain said yesterday that British chancellor Gordon Brown's economic support package would underpin Stormont devolution in the manner that Sinn Féin and the DUP wanted, despite misgivings from Dr Ian Paisley and threats that the issue could be a deal breaker.
"Gordon Brown is just as keen as I am and just as anxious as Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness and their colleagues are to provide the executive with a flying start," Mr Hain said yesterday.
"We don't want to see it in difficulty and it won't be in difficulty. The economic package will be a good one," he told the BBC. "It is already there in its basic elements, but I think it can be improved in its detail and I am sure that when the negotiations are concluded, then the executive will be in a good position to really deliver for Northern Ireland in the way that the people wanted." First minister-designate Mr Paisley had warned earlier that he could not take his place in the new administration unless Mr Brown's package met expectations.
He said: "I want them to get the message that this is so serious that we can't possibly do justice to our country if we don't get this." He said the contribution from Dublin was larger than that on offer from the British government and was showing the inadequacy of the Brown plan.
The package was revealed last week following talks between Dr Paisley, Mr McGuinness and the chancellor in Scotland, during which plans were discussed for two special investment conferences involving companies from the US.
However, the DUP leader signalled at that time he was underwhelmed by Mr Brown's plans.
"I regret we didn't come to a full conclusion to our talks with the chancellor of the exchequer," he said at the time.
"These talks are going on and another meeting has been arranged. We hope at this meeting we will come to a satisfactory conclusion." Mr Hain yesterday played down the disagreement over the scale of British financial assistance and claimed devolution at Stormont will be "permanent".
"I really believe that after devolution day it would be as unthinkable for direct rule to be re-imposed on Northern Ireland as it would be for Scotland and Wales," he said.
"I believe the transformation is now so firm and the preparations for government by the DUP and Sinn Féin are so deep and practical that Northern Ireland is set for permanent devolved government." He added that the Assembly would set about an agenda of reform, but would do it in its own way.