Fresh bilateral talks at Stormont

UUP could walk away from Stormont talks

Delegations from the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP have taken part in bilateral talks to try to find a breakthrough to the current political impasse.

The discussions took place at Parliament Buildings in Belfast on Monday.

Further round table talks between all the Northern Ireland parties are expected before the end of the week.

Last week, UUP leader David Trimble warned there was every chance his party could withdraw from the current multi-party talks.

David Trimble: Warning over withdrawal

The former first minister said the British and Irish Governments must take action to unpick "the private backroom deal over cross border bodies".

Mr Trimble said amending legislation should be introduced in the Irish Parliament.

Without that, he warned, the Good Friday Agreement would "be placed in mortal danger".

Suspension

Ulster Unionist Sir Reg Empey said "a treaty" had been agreed by both governments "without our knowledge and consent".

He said the arrangement had the potential to become joint sovereignty over the specific areas concerned.

Denis Bradley: Criticised UUP leader

In a statement, a spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office said its intention was absolutely clear - "the care and maintenance of the North-South Ministerial Council during suspension.

Northern Ireland's power-sharing institutions were suspended on 14 October following allegations of continuing IRA activity.

At the weekend, a senior member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board criticised Mr Trimble over his comments opposing the early devolution of justice and policing.

Board vice-chairman Denis Bradley called on the Ulster Unionist leader and other politicians to stop playing politics with law and order issues.

Mr Trimble described new legislation which will allow former paramilitary prisoners to join the district policing partnerships as a "sop to Sinn Fein".

The legislation is due to be introduced in Parliament next week.

Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness said Mr Trimble had made "an unfortunate and unhelpful contribution".

He said all issues could be discussed over the next 10 weeks.

No progress

Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy and Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen have been co-hosting multi-party talks but so far there is no sign of progress.

The Ulster Unionists have insisted they will not return to power-sharing with Sinn Fein until there is absolute certainty the IRA will cease all paramilitary activity.

Following the collapse of power-sharing at Stormont, current legislation dictates that the British and Irish Governments must review the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement on which devolution was based.

But unless some common ground can be found between the parties on how to proceed, there is no mechanism for reinstating the power-sharing executive.

Both the governments have stressed that there will be no re-negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement.