DUP describe PM meeting as 'extremely useful'

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have described talks with Prime Minister, Tony Blair today as "extremely useful".

The meeting, at 10 Downing Street, is the first meeting between the government and the Rev. Ian Paisley's party since last month's Assembly elections.

In a statement issued following the meeting, the DUP said: "We highlighted to Mr Blair the responsibility, placed on the DUP, by an overwhelming majority of the unionist electorate, to bring about constructive change in Northern Ireland.

"We also expressed our desire to work with the Prime Minister and his Government in order to achieve stable and lasting devolved structures in Northern Ireland that are accountable, effective and efficient."

Dr Paisley, who was joined by deputy leader, Peter Robinson, Iris Robinson, Ian Paisley Jnr and Party Chairman, Maurice Morrow, said his party intended to have further talks with the government "to enable us to move forward and fulfil our electoral pledges to the people".

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said today's meeting" was clearly the beginning of a conversation" and that "everyone was broadly aware of the DUP's position" in sharing government with Sinn Féin.

The PMOS said Tony Blair and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern would be meeting with the rest of Northern Ireland's main political parties – the UUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein and Alliance party - on a bilateral basis to gauge their assessment of the situation.

"After that, we would be in a better position to consider in which direction we were heading," he added.

(MB)