Power-sharing bill rushed through House of Commons

22/11/2006 - 08:42:10
Emergency legislation to restore power sharing in the North by next March was rushed through England's House of Commons last night.

The bill giving effect to the St Andrews Agreement was unopposed and completed its subsequent stages.

It goes to the House of Lords later today and is expected to receive royal assent before the transitional Assembly's first meeting on Friday at Stormont.

The DUP and Sinn Féin however, remain deadlocked over the failure of republicans to endorse policing and the rule of law.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain again threw down the gauntlet to both sides to deliver on their obligations or face the inevitable and indefinite closure of Stormont.