Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams sit down three feet apart

...Never thought I'd write that.

Possible cop-out in Northern Ireland process

While acknowledging the historic nature of the DUP's decision to go into government with Sinn Fein (albeit with a delay), Peter Hain has left the door open for a delay on the 26th March deadline. If DUP and Sinn Fein agree on a delay, then, he says, that's OK. And Sinn Fein have said that the DUP must talk directly to them to allow a delay.

Crikey. It's a good job no-one is holding their breath.

Another delay in Northern Ireland?

Despite Blair and Hain repeatedly saying that the 26th March was a final, final deadline, UTV reports that the DUP will request and probably get a six week delay before nominating ministers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

It seems difficult to see how the British government will squirm out of this and save any "face"at all.

2 days to go to Northern Ireland deadline

The news output from Northern Ireland has been a bit quiet for a while. But the deadline of Monday, 26th March has crept up on us.

The DUP and Sinn Fein meet today. The signs are that, hopefully, the deadline will be met:

BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said: "Most observers believe the DUP leader, Ian Paisley, is ready, in principle, to share power.

"But his party has been looking for an eight-week delay which will put a new Stormont executive on ice until late May."

Mr Paisley held talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair twice within 48 hours this week, ahead of the deadline.

After the second meeting, Downing Street re-iterated that Monday's deadline stood.

Mr Paisley said a "great deal of ground" had been covered.

So it seems to be now or never. But in Northern Ireland you never know.

Voting by STV today

Voters go to the polls to place their 1,2,3 preference today in Northern Ireland. I see the BBC are explaining how many preferences voters can use (as many as they like, of course) and how the surpluses are allocated.

All this reinforces an aspect of Northern Ireland which has been observed before and which always stands out in my mind. The people of Northern Ireland are one of the most sophisticated, politically acute electorates in the world. There are not many other places where, for better or worse, the fine nuances of political maneuvering are discussed with such passion and command of the detail.

Goodness knows what the result of the election will be. Hopefully, at long last it will lead to a resumption of devolved government. Presumably that will mean the DUP in government with Sinn Fein. Remarkable bed fellows.

The people there deserve peaceful devolved government. I hope today will mark the beginning of a new and relatively joyous chapter in the history of Northern Ireland.

Historic day for Northern Ireland

Well, that's been said before. But the 90% vote by Sinn Fein delegates to support policing in Northern Ireland really is a milestone.

Quite incredibly, Gerry Adams actually had a good word to say about Ian Paisley in the Observer today: "he believed Ian Paisley was genuine in wanting to build a better future for everyone in the North of Ireland." Blimey.

All something you could not have imagined a few years ago.

At last reason for some hope. Thank goodness and well done to the people of Northern Ireland for sticking in there.