Spell out plan B on devolution, premiers told
Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair were today urged to spell out publicly before the November deadline for devolution in the North what they will do if it is missed.
Sinn Féin’s Mitchel McLaughlin issued the call after Northern Secretary Peter Hain warned Assembly members that he would slash the number of government departments in the North if they were unwilling to take the decision themselves in a devolved administration by November 24.
After Mr Hain also gave a taste of how Dublin and London ministers would enhance cross-border co-operation, Mr McLaughlin said: “I think it is incumbent on the two governments to indicate how they would respond if the DUP continues to refuse to form an executive by the November deadline.
“It would be wrong to describe such an event as a failure to form an executive, because that implies all the other parties are at fault when it is just the DUP.
“In refusing to meet the deadline, the DUP should do so in the full knowledge of what the consequences are.
“So yes, I think the governments should make public their plans in advance of the November deadline.”
