Scotland to host last-ditch talks on Ulster

Published on Monday 18 September 2006 14:08

IRISH Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are to host last-ditch devolution talks with the Northern Ireland parties in Scotland next month, it was announced today.

The October 11-13 discussions will focus on the joint British-Irish strategy aimed at bringing about the re-establishment of the power-sharing executive in Belfast.

In an audio clip released on the Taoiseach's website, Mr Ahern said it was time "to finish the job".

The talks in Scotland would offer a real opportunity to settle outstanding issues once and for all, he added.

"Northern Ireland politicians need to make up their mind whether they want to govern or not," he continued.

The Taoiseach said that if agreement cannot be reached then the two Governments would move ahead to implement the agreement.

Meanwhile, Tony Blair risked plunging the Labour Party back into civil war today by announcing a new speeded-up policy review to set out the party's agenda for the next ten years - a move expected to anger Chancellor Gordon Brown and his supporters, who believe the Prime Minister is trying to tie the hands of his successor to ensure his political legacy.

This week, Mr Blair will tell his Cabinet of his plans to create four policy "working groups" to report at the turn of the year and announce future plans in the spring before he stands down.

He will follow this up by telling the Labour conference in Manchester next week, in his final keynote speech, that he wants to "resolve" key policy debate before he leaves office.