Fine Gael delegation visits Belfast

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will travel to Stormont today to meet the leaders of the main political parties and to hold discussions…

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will travel to Stormont today to meet the leaders of the main political parties and to hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson.

The Fine Gael delegation will include two TDs who voted against Mr Kenny in this week's party leadership contest, Fergus O'Dowd and Brian Hayes.

This is the most extensive series of talks by Fine Gael in Northern Ireland since power-sharing was restored to Stormont.

The delegation will include vice chairman of the British Irish Parliamentary body, Seymour Crawford, and TDs Joe McHugh, Brian Hayes and Fergus O'Dowd. Munster MEP Seán Kelly will also attend.

The Fine Gael group will hold separate talks with DUP leader Peter Robinson; Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie, Ulster Unionist Party leader Reg Empey and his deputy Danny Kennedy and the Alliance Party leader and new Justice Minister David Ford.