The Irish and British Governments have agreed a joint paper which they hope will form the basis for agreement in the latest round of Northern talks.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and British prime minister David Cameron spoke by phone for about 15 minutes last night in advance of travelling to Belfast today to preside over the talks. Government sources in Dublin said the conversation reflected the cautious optimism on the part of both governments that agreement can be reached.
The sources added that the optimism was based on the Northern parties having realistic expectations about what can be done by the governments to facilitate agreement.
The Taoiseach and the prime minister will seek to emphasise to the parties the benefits to the people of Northern Ireland of a positive outcome. Tánaiste Joan Burton will join Mr Kenny on the Irish delegation to emphasise the Government’s commitment.
The sources said considerable progress had been made on issues relating to the past, which formed part of the Haas process. Other issues, such as an expanded remit for North-South bodies, an Irish-language Act, a Bill of Rights and the establishment of a civic forum have formed part of the talks, involving the two Governments and the parties. Cucial issues relating to stabilising the North’s finances, involving reform of the welfare system, and the thorny question of parades do not involve the Irish Government.
‘Crucial’ stage
In advance of his arrival today, Mr Cameron said he was coming to Northern Ireland as the talks reach a "crucial" stage. "That is why the UK Government, along with our very close colleagues in the Irish Government, will be pushing hard to bring these discussions to a successful conclusion this week," he wrote in a Belfast Telegraph article.
Sources have warned, however, that any prospect of success depends on Mr Cameron providing some form of financial inducement that could cushion the effects of welfare reform changes and of £1.5 billion in cuts to the Northern Executive’s budget up to 2019.
Last week First Minister Peter Robinson warned without a deal by Christmas, Stormont would fall. Yesterday Sinn Féin negotiator Mr Murphy effectively agreed with him. “The implications are the Executive can’t continue to function. You go into a crash and you go back to an election and let the public decide how the issues are resolved,” he said.
