New call for all party talks

Mark Durkan is to call for all-party talks

SDLP leader Mark Durkan is expected to call on the British and Irish Governments to stage all party talks immediately to find a way forward in the political process.

Mr Durkan is to make the call as he leads a delegation in talks with Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen in Dublin on Tuesday.

Before travelling to Dublin, he is due to meet Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams at Stormont.

The pace of political negotiations has increased in recent days, with Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble meeting Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on Monday.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Trimble said a clear end to paramilitarism was needed in order to restore the Assembly, but the relatively peaceful summer months had provided a good backdrop for potential progress.

No date has yet been set for elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly which were postponed in May over what the government called a "lack of clarity" about the IRA's future intentions.

Northern Ireland's devolved administration was suspended last October amid allegations of IRA intelligence gathering in the Stormont government.

David Trimble held talks with Bertie Ahern in Dublin

At the weekend, Mr Ahern held what were described as "useful" talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Chequers.

These followed a week of private contacts between the key players in the process.

A Downing Street spokesman said the leaders had held a "useful meeting, catching up on events following the summer and looking to what the next steps are in terms of having elections in Northern Ireland".

Mr Ahern told RTE radio on Sunday that elections could only be held if there was a credible chance of an executive being formed afterwards.

He pointed out that the Irish Government wanted to have an election before Christmas.

Mr Ahern said that he and Mr Blair had agreed on a "road map" for the month ahead.

Paul Murphy : 'Monitoring legislation should inspire confidence'

On Monday, Secretary of State Paul Murphy said he believed Northern Ireland's political process could be revived by a new monitoring body for the Good Friday Agreement and paramilitary ceasefires.

Mr Murphy said the government wanted elections and a return to devolution.

He said: "I think the people of Northern Ireland want their Assembly back. They want their Government back, but also they want to ensure that we tackle the underlying problems of continuing paramilitary activity and the sustainability of the Assembly which led to the breakdown in the political process nearly a year ago."

The Northern Ireland (Monitoring Commission etc) Bill was passed at committee stage in the Lords by 129 to 117 on Monday, and will be debated by MPs later this week.