Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Ministers insisted today that they would overcome their difficulties and press ahead with two vital executive meetings next week.
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness spoke after attending a gathering of UK and Irish political leaders in Scotland.
Following the short event, Mr Robinson said: “I hope we will have two meetings next week, it’s important that we do. I think it will be very hard to explain to people in Northern Ireland that Northern Ireland politicians can sit around a table in Edinburgh but they couldn’t sit around one in Belfast.
“So let’s move ahead with all of the institutions, get everything in place and get down to work.”
Mr McGuiness spoke to reporters separately but insisted he had a good relationship with Mr Robinson and shared common goals.
Asked if the north-south meeting would go ahead on Friday next week, he said: “I don’t see any reason why it can’t go ahead.
“Given that today’s event went ahead, we can reasonably expect that the North-South ministerial council will take place next week.”
And he said it was an “absolute priority” for an Executive meeting to be held on Thursday next week.
Much of the deadlock was caused by stalling over the planned transfer of police and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont, which should have been agreed in May.
Mr McGuinness said: “Peter Robinson and I want to see powers of policing and justice transferred from London to an administration which we head in the north.
“The challenge is how we agree to do that. Thus far we’ve had our difficulties and problems, but I see these all as challenges to be overcome.
“I hope that in the coming days we will continue with our efforts to try and find a way through to a resolution of the present difficulties that undoubtedly exist between us.
“Let me also say that this does not affect my personal relationship with Peter Robinson.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen flew to the Edinburgh summit from New York today.
Secretary of State for Wales Paul Murphy represented Westminster and chief ministers from Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man were also be represented.
The meeting, the first in Scotland for six years, took place at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh.
The council was set up under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 to bring the British and Irish governments together with the devolved governments, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Speaking at a pre-summit dinner at Dundas Castle last night, Mr Salmond said: “The summit provides a fantastic opportunity to co-operate as administrations across these islands in the interests of all our people.
“That is an entirely positive agenda and one I will be proud to chair.”
He also said Scotland would make the case for the council to include energy in future deliberations.
“There is an enormous opportunity to be found in terms of the generation of renewable energy but there is not yet a strategy for connectivity and transmission,” he said.
“Scotland has a huge amount to offer here.”
“Co-operation across our administrations holds great potential, not only in terms of transmission, but on related issues including carbon capture and storage and climate change.
“By leading a new work stream on energy, I hope that Scotland can help give the issue the profile it deserves.”
Additional reporting PA