Government officials are to hold seperate meetings with their British counterparts and Sinn Féin today for talks on the Northern Ireland peace process.
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Mr David Trimble -
renewed resignation threat |
The Minster for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, will meet Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid in Dublin to review the impact of the Westminster and local government elections on efforts to implement the Belfast Agreement.
With the Northern Ireland parties still to resolve issues of decommissioning, policing, demilitarisation and the full operation of the Agreement, there are fears the slide in the vote for the UUP and the SDLP could stall the process further.
Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble is under pressure from some in his party after losses to the DUP, who gained three House of Commons seats and increased its number of local councillors by 40.
Sinn Féin also made significant gains at the expense of the SDLP and will also be bringing its four MPs - Mr Gerry Adams, Mr Martin McGuinness, Mr Pat Doherty and Ms Michelle Gildernew - to Dublin today for talks with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Yesterday Mr Trimble repeated his threat to resign as Northern Ireland First Minister on July 1st if the IRA does not substantially disarm.
"If we come to the end of this month which the Government had set as the period for full implementation of the Agreement and we find that the Agreement with regards to decommissioning has not be implemented, then I am absolutely determined to follow through in terms of drawing a line and causing a crisis in the institutions by resigning," Mr Trimble said.
Sources close to Mr Trimble are expecting a challenge to his leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party following the loss of four Westminster seats since the 1997 general election and 31 council seats since the last local government poll, also in 1997.
It is believed a leadership bid may be launched by either veteran South Belfast MP the Rev Martin Smyth or Lagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson at the annual general meeting of the UUP's ruling council on June 23rd.