The failure of Northern Ireland's political parties to reach a deal to restore devolution by 24 November 2006 will have "dire consequences", the Government has said. Political Development Minister, David Hanson said it was becoming a matter of urgency that the parties agree a deal and "if the deadline is not met, it would be a long time before the Assembly is restored." Talks aimed at moving the process forward will be held in October, and Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern met this month to review the attempts to restore devolution. They also finalised plans for talks at St Andrews in Scotland later in the year.
However, Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley has made it clear he does not want to travel to Scotland and believes the 24 November deadline will not be met. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he would give his backing to the party signing up to policing, when the British Government "fulfils its promises" to them.
Devolution was suspended in October 2002 over allegations of a Republican spy ring. The resulting court case collapsed and one of those charged, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent. Northern Ireland parties have been back at Stormont since May, sitting in a "Virtual Assembly" which can meet and debate, but not pass legislation.
