The leaders agreed on 2nd June that two periods of intensive meetings would be held during June. As yet, the First and deputy First Ministers have not produced any recommendations for the timing or format of such discussions.
David Ford MLA said: “Three weeks after Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness agreed to convene all-party talks, nothing has been done. Six months after the end of the Haass discussions, we are no further on with these critical issues. If dates for the all-party talks are not agreed this week, then we will be left with no option but to call on the British Government to convene a new process with the involvement of the five parties, and the Irish Government.
“Given the threat to community relations from another summer of unrest, it is scandalous that the First and deputy First Ministers have left these issues sitting on the shelf. If they will not organise these all-party talks that they promised three weeks ago, then the British Government must take the responsibility of doing so.
“Six months of leaders meetings have achieved nothing. This cannot go on indefinitely. The legacy of the past, disputes over parades and the row over flags, hurt our political system on a daily basis and prevent us from reaching an agreed way forward.
“The victims of the past deserve better than this.”
ENDS