No secret deals - Mandelson

Unionist concerns may prevent return to Stormont

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson has rejected reports that a private understanding has been drawn up with the Irish government over any future suspension of the power-sharing assembly.

Mr Mandelson, speaking in the House of Commons, said Dublin would not have a veto over suspending the assembly if the secretary of state felt such a move was necessary in the future.

Mr Mandelson said Northern Ireland now had two opportunities - the prospect of a return to devolved government and "real and lasting progress on the removal of arms".

He was answering questions from MPs after holding talks with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street as efforts continue to return a power-sharing government to Northern Ireland.

He added: "If it slips from our grasp now we may not be able to get it back."

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said he still had to decide whether his party would return to a devolved government.

He said he was taking a "wait and see" approach and insisted that he and his party would not be rushed into a decision.

'Difficult issues'

On Saturday the Ulster Unionist's 860-member ruling council is meeting to decide if it will rejoin a government with republicans on 22 May, the date by which Mr Blair hopes to have the political institutions restored.

They were suspended in February because of an impasse over paramilitary arms decommissioning.

Following Wednesday's meeting, a Downing Street spokesman said a number of "difficult issues" still had to be resolved but dialogue with the parties was continuing.

Peter Mandelson: Time to seize opportunity

In the Commons, Tory Northern Ireland spokesman Andrew Mackay asked Mr Mandelson if the Irish government had a secret undertaking that the Northern Ireland secretary would not suspend the power-sharing assembly in the future.

Mr Mandelson said: "No such secret undertaking has been given.

"I am planning for success. I am not planning to suspend the institutions but the power is there for me to do so if required."

He said he would consult widely if he felt such a move was required, but added: "At the end of the day, if the institutions are collapsing, I will have to ensure the good governance of Northern Ireland."

Crucial meeting

Many Ulster Unionists do not feel the latest IRA offer to open some of its arms dumps to two international inspectors as part of a process of putting weapons "beyond use", goes far enough.

Speaking to 250 members of the anti-agreement Union First group within the party, Jeffrey Donaldson MP said the latest IRA arms offer was not enough to merit a return to devolved government.

"I'm not even sure that the deal is going to be put before the council," he said.

"I think there is a growing consensus within the party that the deal is not enough, that it falls far short of what we need."

Assurances

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness has cancelled a trip to the United States later this week.

A party spokesman said Mr McGuinness had intended to brief supporters but had cancelled the trip because of the weekend's crucial events.

On Tuesday, Ulster Unionists rejected a letter from Mr Mandelson which contained assurances that the final decision on the name of the new police service would be left to the secretary of state.

SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon has warned both governments to stop the "daily drip feed of concessions" to unionists and republicans.

He warned that backroom deals would "strangle the political process".