The British government is ready to legislate for the creation of an International Monitoring Body (IMB) to oversee paramilitary and government "acts of completion" in a fresh bid to see devolution restored in Northern Ireland. Frank Millar, London Editor, reports.
This was confirmed last night as officials prepared for Wednesday's meeting between the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, at 10 Downing Street.
The two leaders will seek to inject fresh momentum into the political process with a renewed commitment to implement those aspects of the British-Irish Joint Declaration not conditional upon IRA acts of completion, and with a strong appeal for peace during the summer months.
However, the predicted early move to establish the international monitoring body - probably in "shadow" form in the first instance - appears to be the central element of a revised strategy by which London and Dublin hope to transform the political atmosphere and enable the postponed Assembly elections to take place in the autumn.
British sources have indicated that their legislation could be introduced shortly, although it would be unlikely to complete all its parliamentary stages before MPs rise for the summer recess at the end of July. It is also understood that corresponding Irish legislation has not yet been finalised, hence the suggestion that the IMB be established initially in shadow form.
The hope in Whitehall is that a period of monitoring of paramilitary activity by respected nominees from Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic and the United States - and any report by them that the specific activities referred to in the Joint Declaration had been discontinued - would weigh heavily with the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, in deciding whether he can commit his party to resume power-sharing with Sinn Féin. Mr Trimble has been urging the two governments to push ahead with the creation of the IMB, despite the continued opposition of Sinn Féin.
The plan received a fresh endorsement yesterday from Mr Richard Haass, President Bush's special envoy to Northern Ireland, who said no side had reason to worry if they intended to fulfil their obligations under the Belfast Agreement.
However, Mr Haass's comments are likely to be seized upon by Ulster Unionist dissidents, led by the suspended MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, in support of their charge that the IMB would give Dublin a direct role in the internal affairs of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Speaking on the BBC's Politics Show, Mr Haass said: "The writ of this body is comprehensive. It would deal with paramilitarism, yes, but not just that. It would also deal with the political obligations under the Good Friday agreement and the joint declaration. I don't feel that anybody has any reason to worry about it if they intend to fulfil their obligations as stipulated. What this body does will have to be quite transparent and so it will be under media and public scrutiny."
Mr Haass's description of the writ of the proposed IMB fits with an earlier report in The Irish Times that the body could play an important role in holding parties to account if they were suspected of failing to conduct future negotiations in good faith - for example, on the timetable for the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Stormont Assembly.
Mr Trimble's supporters insist the crucial point about the IMB is that the British government would be assuming the power to exclude a party or parties from any restored Executive. British sources were unable to say last night whether the proposed legislation would give a unilateral power of action to the Northern Secretary.