Reid makes first official visit to Dublin
The new Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid made his first official visit to Dublin today in a bid to move forward the stalled peace process.
With the Government due to meet republican, nationalist and unionist leaders today, Dr Reid said the best way forwards was through consensus.
He described the SDLP’s leader John Hume’s request in London yesterday for round-the-table talks as a "constructive suggestion".
Speaking to reporters before his meeting with Irish foreign minister Brian Cowen, Dr Reid said: "The important thing is that we have to move forward.
"We have made some progress. We will continue to make progress. The price for all of us is so great and the consequences of failure so awful."
Areas for discussion would include the reform of policing in the north and decommissioning.
On the possibility of round-the-table talks Dr Reid said: ‘‘I think that that’s a constructive suggestion. But there is more than one party involved. There are two governments and many parties.
"That is one of the things that Brian and I will be discussing this morning."
Mr Cowen told reporters he and Dr Reid would ‘‘take stock’’ of the progress that has already been made.
He said: "We will be briefing each other on what progress we can record.
"We are determined to move this process forward. Significant progress has been made."
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and an SDLP delegation led by Mr Hume are to hold separate talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern later today.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble will also meet the Taoiseach in Dublin today.
