Taoiseach optimistic about prospects for North progress
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has expressed optimism about the prospects for further progress in the North in the run-up to the latest devolution deadline of March 26th.
New legislation published by the British government yesterday paves the way for Assembly elections on March 7th, but the body will be dissolved if the parties cannot agree to share power by the 26th.
The DUP and Sinn Féin must also put forward their nominees for the positions of first and deputy first minister by the end of next week.
Speaking in Dublin last night, Bertie Ahern said ongoing discussions were going well, but more work still needed to be done.
"We have to work carefully through all of the issues," he said. "It's a complex business, it's a detailed business, but it's going well since the St Andrew's negotiations of five weeks ago."
