The British government is keeping open the possibility of a new Assembly elections to endorse any devolution deal, it emerged tonight.
Following his return to Belfast from the Labour Party conference, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain did not reject demands from the Rev Ian Paisley for any deal to be put to the people.
As he arrived at Stormont for talks with the Northern Ireland parties, Mr Hain said in response to the Democratic Unionist leader's call: "The next election, as things stand, will be May 2008.
"I have not had any proposal for an election. If people want to put that proposal, we will obviously look at that in the context of discussions. However, as things stand the next Assembly election will be May 2008."
Earlier Mr Hain heard the Democratic Unionist leader give a tough, uncompromising speech at a breakfast event on the fringes of the Labour Party conference in Manchester.
The North Antrim MP criticised the Northern Secretary, accusing him of trying to threaten MLAs into a deal to restore power sharing by November 24th.
"If you are serious about a deal, then get serious about applying pressure to those who stand in the way of a real settlement which is honourable, achievable and durable," Revr Paisley said.
Rev Paisley and other political leaders head to St Andrews in Scotland next month for intensive talks aimed at removing the barriers to a power-sharing government.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair will chair the talks. Both leaders hope that a report next week on paramilitary activity by the four-member Independent Monitoring Commission will provide the right mood music for the talks by confirming the IRA has significantly moved to end criminal and terrorist activity.
However, Dr Paisley said Sinn Fein's attitude to IRA crimes and the party's refusal to endorse the PSNI was make-or-break issue.
"The people of Northern Ireland want devolution, to which they have a right, and for which they have high expectations, but we must face up to the reality that there cannot be two laws or two police forces or double standards in any democracy," he said.
The DUP leader also dismissed suggestions that he might be tempted into striking a deal on a power-sharing initiative as he looked to his political legacy.
Mr Hain also today faced questions from the Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey over the purpose of next month's talks.
Noting that Lord Morrow of the DUP effectively ruled out a restoration by November 24 th, Sir asked: If the DUP has decided it is not going to do the business under any circumstances by November 24, what is the purpose of the talks in Scotland? "Will a genuine effort be made to reach a breakthrough or will it be a case of just going through the motions?"
SDLP deputy leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell said Mr Hain had agreed at their meeting in Stormont that Sinn Fein and the DUP were to blame for the political deadlock in Northern Ireland.
"The DUP and Sinn Fein are effectively blackmailing us, " the South Belfast MP argued. "They are holding back restoration in the hope of concessions for themselves.
PA