Government denies Trimble hinted his intention to resign
The Government is denying that David Trimble dropped hints of his threat to resign as the North's First Minister when he met with the Taoiseach last Friday.
A Government spokesperson described the timing of Mr Trimble’s announcement as strange.
David Trimble's threat to resign as First Minister on July 1st unless the IRA hands over arms is being greeted with surprise and disappointment by the Government here.
A spokesperson is describing the move as strange in its timing although the talk around Leinster House is that Mr Trimble is panicking ahead of the local and Westminster elections on June 7th.
A Government spokesperson is also denying that the UUP leader broadly hinted his intentions at a meeting with the Taoiseach in Government Buildings last week.
On a related note, the Government is to extend the remit of the DeChastelaine decommissioning body by the end of the month.
This will effectively allow the body to continue overseeing the handing over of arms in the Republic for a further six months.
