PROPOSALS for an elected body in the North have been discussed at length by some of the parties in their submissions to the international body on decommissioning. And it is understood the British government has drafted a number of working papers outlining the possible shape and scale of an assembly or convention.
Thin emerged last night as former US Senator George Mitchell and his team concluded a "productive" 75 minute meeting with the British Prime Minister. Mr John Major, at Downing Street. Mr Mitchell and his two colleagues arrive in Dublin this morning for a meeting with the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste.
Mr Spring and the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, will also hold trilateral talks with Sinn Fein and the SDLP in Belfast next week in an attempt to sustain the momentum of the twin track initiative.
Mr Mitchell last night confirmed that he would meet next Thursday's deadline for the presentation of the report. Mr Mitchell said "we hope very much to make a positive contribution" to the process.
But with the British government and Sinn Fein still locked in dispute over the so called `Washington 3' test requiring the commencement of decommissioning ahead of all party talks speculation is growing as to how the international body might address the underlying political problem.
Mr Mitchell confined that he and Mr Major had discussed a wide range of issues, while giving no indication as to the likely terms of his report. However, British government sources have indicated to The Irish Times that they would not consider recommendations in respect of an elected body to exceed Mr Mitchell's remit.
And it has emerged that at least some of the parties have addressed the international body in terms of both aspects of the "twin track" political and decommissioning strategy agreed in November by Mr Major and Mr Bruton. According to sources, over half the time spent by an Alliance Party delegation with Mr Mitchell and his colleagues was devoted to discussion of their plan for elections to a talks process.
Mr Major and Mar Bruton agreed that this concept of elections advanced originally by the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble was one of the issues to be discussed in the exploratory bilateral and trilateral talks. It is understood the British government has drafted a number of working papers outlining the possible shape and scale of an assembly or convention. Sources say one of the options under consideration would provide for a 45 member body, with 5 members being elected from nine notional constituencies. This would apparently require amalgamation of existing parliamentary seats in the North, and would possibly require legislation at Westminster.
However, despite the enthusiasm for such a course by the pro union and loyalist parties, Sinn Fein and the SDLP have declared themselves opposed.
The meeting between Mr Bruton, Mr Spring and the decommissioning body will be held in Government Buildings today.
Opposition leaders, Mr Ahern and Ms Harney, welcomed Sinn Fein's proposals on decommissioning as a significant advance yesterday. In a major address in Belfast, the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, said that he shared the widespread concern that in many areas confidence in the peace process and in the will or ability of the two governments to push it forward and to give it real leadership was faltering.
The delay in getting all party talks underway was something the outside world found incomprehensible after IS or 16 months of virtually uninterrupted peace. He also said he had little time for the republican sophistry which will not condone but refused to condemn recent murders of real or alleged drug dealers. In a subsequent interview, he said Sinn Fein should use its influence to end executions in the North.