Emergency legislation, paving the way for the re-imposition of direct rule in the North, is due to clear the House of Commons tonight, before moving to the Lords. The second reading of the Northern Ireland Bill was approved by 352 votes to 11, a majority of 341. Earlier, the North's First Minister, David Trimble, told the Commons that, despite the setbacks, the peace process was still alive and that the current problems could be overcome.
The Northern Secretary said that a pause would enable the North's institutions to be revived at a future date. The North's Deputy First Minister has said that the chances of actually achieving decommissioning would be greatly reduced if the political institutions were not around and functioning. Seamus Mallon was speaking in the House of Common during the second reading debate on the Northern Ireland Bill.
The Sinn Féin leader has said that, if the institutions set up under the Belfast Agreement were suspended, he would have to consider what role the party and he himself could still play. Gerry Adams said that a suspension of the assembly would not resolve the issue of the decommissioning of paramilitary arms. Mr Adams described his talks today at Downing Street with the British Prime Minister as focussed, serious and useful.
Speaking at a news conference, Gerry Adams said that his party valued Mr Tony Blair's contribution in bringing the peace process this far. However, Mr Adams said that there was still insufficient trust among, what he called, "armed groups" to resolve the decommissioning issue in an acceptable way.
Mr Adams said that a suspension of the political institutions would only encourage rejectionists and those who opposed the Good Friday Agreement. He said that Sinn Féin's efforts to resolve the situation were ongoing and that the party was in touch with both governments and with others. Dialogue was continuing, he said, and that could only be positive. The West Belfast MP said that he believed the issue could be resolved in a way that would build public confidence. Asked whether his party would take legal action in the event of the political institutions being suspended, Mr Adams joked that he might first take a sabbatical.
The Taoiseach has expressed his belief that movement on the IRA arms issue could prevent the suspension of the institutions set up under the Good Friday Agreement. However, Mr Ahern told the Dáil this afternoon the time-table was tight and it was not his call.
The Sinn Féin delegation finished its meeting with Mr Blair in Downing Street around 3 o'clock. The delegation entered Number 10 by a side door to by-pass the media. Downing Street described the meeting as marking time. MPs at Westminster are rushing legislation through the House of Commons to suspend the North's devolved government and re-impose direct rule. The legislation is expected to clear all its Commons stages later tonight and the House of Lords by Thursday, in time to receive the Royal Assent on Friday.
The political institutions set up under the Good Friday Agreement are to be suspended on Friday if there is no progress on IRA decommissioning. The move follows the Northern Secretary's announcement last week that General John de Chastelain had reported no progress by the IRA towards arms decommissioning.
