Stalemate cannot continue - McGuinness

Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness

Speaking on Wednesday in advance of Ian Paisley's meeting with Tony Blair and a meeting between the Irish and British Government's later in the week Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness said it was the responsibility of the two governments to see the Good Friday political institutions re-established.

"The current stalemate cannot be allowed to continue. People have a right to the institutions which they voted for. People have a right to proper political representation from the politicians they voted for. The nonsense of a suspended Assembly is not sustainable. Anything short of fully functioning institutions is unacceptable to Sinn Féin," said McGuinness.

The Sinn Féin MP re-iterated key action points agreed at a Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle meeting in Dublin last weekend. These are as follows:

• An end to the illegal suspension of the institutions imposed by the British Government in October 2002.

• The triggering of the d'Honte mechanism, for electing the Executive.

• Agreement by the DUP to take up their seats in an Executive along with other mandated parties

• Substantive progress on outstanding aspects of the Agreement including demilitarisation, equality and human rights issues

• The conclusion of the debate on policing on the basis set out in December 2006

• Northern representation to be brought forward in the Oireachtas

• Delivery of a peace dividend for the North and border counties.