The DUP is refusing to sign up to the two governments proposals on restoring
devolution to the North until every last detail surrounding photographic
evidence of Provisional IRA decommissioning is agreed.
Wednesday is now the governments' latest deadline for reaching a deal. While
the Rev Ian Paisley's comments that the IRA must repent and wear "sackcloth
and ashes" caused considerable unease during negotiations, they are not to
blame for the lack of progress.
Government sources said Sinn Féin complained strongly that Dr Paisley's
remarks had unsettled their base. So the Taoiseach was then forced to make
his statement on recommending the release of Garda Jerry McCabe's killers.
"We were bounced into that. It was meant to come further down the line but
the Shinners were kicking up such a stink we had to give them something,"
said a source. "Paisley's remarks were extremely unhelpful at a very
sensitive time."
However, all sides privately acknowledge Dr Paisley was "speaking from the
heart" and such comments were "were part of the nature of the man" and
didn't reflect any plot to derail the process.
The details of photographic evidence of decommissioning remains the major
stumbling block to a deal. The DUP is demanding a range of pledges on who
takes the photographs, the quality of the pictures, and who will hold them
until they are published.
Several sources said the DUP was "driving the governments mad" with its
detailed requests. "We have never dealt with anything like it," said a
British source. Sinn Féin has described the negotiations as "exhaustive".
A DUP source defended the party's stance: "The difference between ourselves
and the Ulster Unionists is we are determined that everything is nailed down
in black-and-white.
"Trimble took far too much for granted and that was his undoing. If we are
not satisfied with the answers we get, we will keep asking the questions
until we are satisfied. It doesn't matter how many times we have to keep
going back to the government.
"Tony Blair tries to get away with selling the 'vision thing'. If 90 per
cent of the deal is agreed, he expects the final bit to be taken on trust.
Well that hasn't worked in the past.
"There is this attitude among Blair's people, 'Oh Tony is a bit rushed now,
can't you just sign up?' Well, we will not be bounced into anything because
it's convenient for others."
The DUP is studying replies from the government to its questions over the
weekend. Dr Paisley will meet Tony Blair in London on Monday.
