FIRST MINISTER SET TO STEP DOWN

FOLLOWING downbeat assessments of the meetings on Friday between Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern and the main Northern Ireland’s political party leaders, discussions are under way to examine possible strategies if First Minister David Trimble resigns.

Unless there is significant movement on the issue of decommissioning Mr Trimble’s resignation comes into effect on Sunday as he stands down as First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly – a move will automatically trigger the resignation of the Deputy First Minister Séamus Mallon.

Apparently not favouring suspension of the assembly, the premiers are expected to attempt further talks initially via mediation involving Northern Ireland Secretary of State Dr John Reid and the Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen. Under current legislation all the parties involved have six weeks in which to negotiate around the current impasse and prevent a collapse of the Northern Ireland assembly.

However, with most of this six-week period taken up by the traditional annual holiday when the parliaments are in recess, a timetable for mid-July is being put forward as the most likely time frame by which it will be necessary to complete any further talks.

A whole day of talks conducted by British prime minister Tony Blair and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern failed to find a way forward. The head of the Independent Commission General John de Chastelain gave a briefing on weapons, but it is understood that the next report due at the end of June will show that the IRA have ignored a call for a decisive gesture on decommissioning.

While the resignation of Mr Trimble as First Minister will be a severe blow to the peace process, the Northern Ireland Assembly will not necessarily collapse. The assembly can continue to function without both the First and Deputy First Minister posts being filled.

Enterprise Minister Sir Reg Empey said that the party would continue to keep all options open, but declined to comment if he or any other ministers would be stepping in to take over the role of acting First Minister to prevent the collapse of the executive level of the assembly.

Amid an air of exasperation, Mr Blair said that he and Mr Ahern had listened to the same arguments that had dogged process since last year when the decommissioning deadline was extended. However, Mr Blair pledged that he and Mr Ahern would continue to attempt to find a resolution to the current situation.

In an appeal to the IRA, Mr Blair said: "It is absolutely essential if we are to have a stable process in Northern Ireland that weapons are put beyond use, that there is a commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic means."

Mr Ahern agreed that it was now time to “come to a conclusion” and bring the talks process to a head.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams maintained that decommissioning was not solely in the hands of republicans and added that suspension of the assembly would be “absolute folly”.

(SP)