Negotiations

Bertie Ahern believes that if the institutional issues around accountablity and voting can be resolved, the Acts of Completion called nearly two years ago will follow. There is also some speculation that a definative statement from the IRA may come later this week. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. …

Read more…

The Alliance party leader David Ford has just spoken about progress and the lack of it at Leeds Castle. He’s attending the Liberal Democrat conference, just down the road from Slugger Central in Bournemouth:”I am bemused that some people are suggesting that creating greater accountability and collective responsibility in the institutions is inconsistent with power-sharing or the Agreement. What we have at the moment is a political carve-up, with Ministers exercising majority-rule within their own domains. By contrast, power-sharing is …

Read more…

For more than twenty years Ruth Dudley Edwards has been a keen watcher of the Northern Irish political pot and has even stirred it a few times herself. Whatever her political dislike of the two main parties of the moment, she believes they have been hard working and diligent in developing their craft in democratic politics. And not above learning from each other!By Ruth Dudley Edwards It was twenty years ago, as we listened to Peter Robinson of the DUP, …

Read more…

So aside from the now highly ritualised game of political chicken between Republicans and Unionists over decommissioning, it appears that ministerial accountablity is the main stumbling block after several days of hermetically sealed talks in Kent.In fact, accountablity comes in at number two in the party’s seven tests, and above the one about only having ministers ‘committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means’. The key problem, from a DUP point of view, comes in paragraph 24 of the Belfast Agreement: …

Read more…

So, it’ll all be over by Christmas. At least that’s what Tony Blair says, and Bertie Ahern, since this was a joint statement, would appear to agree with him – Northern Ireland Talks Falter despite Blair and Ahern Nudges – NY TimesThere remain major problem areas though and while the obvious finger-pointing is, correctly, directed at the DUP’s insistence on the introduction of a de facto party political veto on every decision the Assembly would make, the issue of transparency …

Read more…

LEEDS Castle is exactly what you imagine a fairytale castle should look like – high walls and a moat, towers, a maze in the gardens and high-ranking leaders holding court inside. As the sun shone yesterday, the location for the latest political talks looked idyllic.Of course, the ramparts are equally good at keeping the media’s prying eyes at bay, and the leaders have been wandering in another maze (or maybe even Maze) for years. The journalists who huddle in a …

Read more…

According to a PA report carried on UTV, the centre parties are dropping heavy hints that there may actually be progress being made at Leeds Castle.SDLP leader Mark Durkan has told the assembled press corps that “”People are running out of arguments they have had on a number of issues for holding back”, while the UUP’s David Trimble is urging the PIRA to make a new and detailed statement on weapons without delay, “the sooner we hear it and the …

Read more…

This fascinating op-ed in the Belfast Telegraph sees most of the negotiating cards stacked with Gerry Adams. It argues that his internal position within the party and the wider movement is unassailable.It further suggests the DUP has mismanaged its constituency’s expectations of a deal, that Adams might look in that area for further advantage over Unionism: “…should Adams decide to play for high stakes, he would either come away with a deal or he would have revealed a great weakness …

Read more…

On his way into Leeds Castle this morning, Gerry Adams has told reporters that a deal is inevitable between his party and the DUP. Although clearly he was not committing to a timeline for such an accord it would, he suggested, take shape within the confines of the Belfast Agreement. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking …

Read more…

Gary Kent looks at a number of related issues in the run up to negotiations at Leeds Castle. He warns that the inability of the main political parties to come to an agreement has already had major cumulative and detrimental effects, and that these only stand to increase in the face further and prolonged inaction.By Gary Kent Northern Ireland’s peace process is moving like a glacier towards a final settlement with key talks between the major players taking place this …

Read more…

According to the Irish Times’ Gerry Moriarty’s ‘dependable sources’ “The British and Irish governments want to have the Northern Executive and Assembly back in operation by next January.”As Gerry Moriarty opines “Ambitious or what? Allowing for the New Year, the return to school and getting back into shape after the Christmas festivities, their January deadline could be towards the middle or latter end of that month. That’s not bad: it gives the parties four months to accept, acquiesce to, or …

Read more…

Eric Waugh is in top form this evening. A long term critic of the practical working of the Belfast Agreement, he outlines what the opening gambit of unionist negotiators should be:- The first principle is that more of the same will not do. – Not a scintilla of a goody should be bestowed on tick. Cash on delivery must be the rule. – The overblown machine should be shorn of its fat and the Assembly of 108 cut by one …

Read more…

David Burnside is one of the few senior political players that remains sceptical about the talks in Kent. In fact he reckons it’s a giant waste of taxpayer’s money. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Reuters man Alex Richardson with a brief outline of one of the most contentious issues facing the parties: policing and security. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

David Trimble is upbeat, and given the nature of past events, verging on the statesman-like going into the Leeds Castle negotiations, saying that he hopes this will be the last lap of talks before a final and stable agreement. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

William Graham in yesterday’s Irish News reports activity on all fronts heading into the Leeds Castle negotiations. Sound and fury, or serious minded preparations? Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

The DUP has not stinted on sending manpower, which one of their number suggests is because they feel that Sinn Fein is recognising the Unionist bottom line. Given the need to bring along the party’s wide coalition of interests, it makes sense for them to have as many individuals in close as possible to any potential deal. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media …

Read more…

A slightly shaky but interesting parallel is drawn on this morning’s The Long View (sound file). Amongst others Paul Bew and Danny Morrison do battle against a background of the Scottish Jacobite rebellion of the 18th century and in the foreground, Leeds Castle Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. …

Read more…

It looks like one of the Governments’ coercive moves to get the political parties to concentrate on arriving at a political deal may be the removal of salaries of the members of the legislative assembly (or MLAs). Not exactly a Plan B, but an incentive to make Plan A work and perhaps a sign that there a few more benefits to be gained from the process. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts …

Read more…

You pays your money and you take your choice. The Irish Independent speculates on a move by the IRA to decommission ahead of the Leeds Castle talks, whilst the Sunday Life says no.Time will tell. But an act of decommissioning now would single a different dynamic in the process, with the IRA being seen as taking the lead in the process rather than being pushed into to it by their political opponents. The other crucial question will be how much …

Read more…