The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, has criticised the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, for suggesting that a stronger role for Dublin in Northern affairs would inevitably follow should the Belfast Agreement collapse.
On Thursday, Mr Mandelson gave a series of broadcast interviews designed to bolster the First Minister's position ahead of the UUP annual conference in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast today.
In an interview with UTV he indicated that the Government would have an extended role in Northern affairs, in co-operation with the British government, if the agreement was to collapse. Local politicians would lose power while London and Dublin involvement would increase, he suggested.
According to Mr Mandelson, this could mean unionists confronting "possibly not even just direct rule, but both governments interfering directly in the affairs of Northern Ireland".
This raised fears among some unionists that Mr Mandelson was threatening joint sovereignty in an attempt to coerce unionists into supporting Mr Trimble and the agreement.
Mr Trimble last night made it clear Mr Mandelson's comments were not helpful.
"I think the Secretary of State should also reflect a little more before he says that", said Mr Trimble, adding that the way to improve support for the agreement was by persuasion.
"I am sure the Secretary of State does not want to give the impression of scaring people into doing something", he added.
Mr Trimble said he had not heard the actual interview on UTV, but he felt it was important that the right degree of balance and emphasis should be applied in such matters.
