All very well for Gerry to attempt to focus the attention on others, Mick, but, meanwhile, we still await his decision.

Pete,

SF have stated that as far as they are concerned the negotiations are over and the deal proposed has to be accepted or rejected. The ball is firmly in the court of the DUPes who seem genuinely nervous of what lies before them.

Just seen the Demon Doc on UTV denying that he is involved in any process with SF and that it is his government the deal is with. Living in denial in such a public manner realy is embarrassing.
Also the poor old duffer stated that he would have to do a lot of swallowing. Save Ulster from sodomy saysI.

and SF haven't accepted or rejected "the deal [supposedly] proposed", Pat.. which is my point.

Pete,

there are very few people out there who believe that SF will not sign up to whats on offer. The fact that the negotiations are over and they haven't walked away is a clue to their intentions.

And it's still not an actual answer, Pat, as Mark Devenport points out in his latest report.

Wait and see. In 1998 Adams promised decommisioning. The DUP are prepared to wait for this. There will be no government without IRA disbandment. That is the bottom line. We are fully aware as Trimble was that a deal is there if we want it.

It will not however be on Adams terms this time.There is no nervousness in the DUP. We know what our electorate one. Personally I could not care less if Stormont comes back.

God Save The Queen.

peteb

The deal is done, the problem is selling it to the stakeholders.

Dr No knows too well that his animated rhetoric is what gets him support, he also knows that it puts him into digestive problems.

Here comes the big swallow ....

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

I see that :

If an historic breakthrough is achieved, the first of the special debates in the Dáil involving Ms de Brun could take place as early as January 2005.

The development would give all three Northern MEPs a right to attend special Oireachtas debates.

Look forward to hearing from Jim in the Dáil

That would be a very welcome and historic step. I would like to see it extended to MPs but it will be enough for now to establish the principle of our right to a voice in the national parliament.

If Sinn Fein have pulled this off then they have achieved a major breakthrough for the cause. Outstanding.

If the price of this is a few photographs then let's get it on.

Even if the deal sits OK with SF how does that go with the volunteers. Although on signing up they were told no personal gain, can they take the personal losses and live with them.

Limited prospects of jobs in the PSNI, as legitimising armed acts by small groups would set a very dangerous precedent. How many 'Armies of God', political sects, ethnic minorities and racists are out there in the world dreaming of the sort of elevation that Sinn Fein have achieved? How far should we go in granting public absolution before this becomes a fresh invitation?

Barbara Brown can sit in any parliament she likes. She will never be the voice of Ulster.

God Save The Queen.

The fact that the DUP have now agreed to the use of a mandate received in Northern Ireland to have status in the Dail suggests that the DUP's anti agreement stance was due to them not feeling it went far enough in creating all Ireland bodies.

It is clear that the dup have not defended the union at all but acquiesced to more SF demands. Curiously the dup have not indicated that they will openly highlight all of the agreements in this process leaving the opportunity for side deals. Any bets the next Irish president will be elected on an all-ireland basis.

half-crown rather than crown anyone

When SF do go into government this time they will not know what hit him. They can run to Rome are Dublin all they want but they will be vetoed at all opportunity.

They will be ignored and ostracised.

We are the masters now.

Republicans shoud be quivering at the thought.

We Won and they enemies of Ulster will soon know about it.

God Save The Queen.

idiot

"There will be no government without IRA disbandment. That is the bottom line."

Ulsterman, I think the DUPes have moved on from this.

ulsterman

Barbara Brown can sit in any parliament she likes. She will never be the voice of Ulster.

Sinn Fein are the biggest party in Ulster and they are the only party that contests elections in all nine counties so while no single party can be the sole voice of Ulster Sinn Fein speak for more Ulster people than any other party.