Call for 'common text' on devolution

The Government has faced a demand from nationalists for round table talks in Northern Ireland to restore devolution.

As speculation intensified about a fresh push by the British and Irish Governments to restore the Assembly and power sharing executive at Stormont, nationalists SDLP leader Mark Durkan called for a common text, to be agreed by all parties, to revive devolution.

The former Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister said: "We need talks between all pro-Agreement parties in order to ensure that common understandings and undertakings are agreed in response to the joint declaration."

He added: "There has not been a common text agreed since the Good Friday Agreement and it would send out an important signal if all pro-Agreement parties could agree a common text on the joint declaration.

"Side deals have failed in the past and will fail again.

"The governments must recognise that the only deal that will work is one agreed by all and understood by all."

Mr Durkan was commenting after a meeting between Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble today.

A Sinn Fein spokesman was loath to go into detail about the discussions but confirmed that they had agreed to meet again.

"It is a matter of public knowledge that we are pressing for an election date as soon as possible," the Sinn Fein spokesman said.

"There is also a need to ensure that the institutions will be sustained and that the outstanding aspects of the Good Friday Agreement will be completed."

The spokesman recognised unionists also had concerns but said this underlined the need for a "collective effort" to end the deadlock in the peace process.

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