Alliance Leader calls for Paisley-Adams face-to-face talks to resolve difficulties

12.00.00pm GMT Mon 15th Jan 2007

Alliance Leader David Ford has called for Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams sit down face-to-face to resolve outstanding issues instead of conducting megaphone diplomacy. His calls come as the DUP voiced discontentment as Sinn Féin pre-conditions on supporting policing which look like creating yet another problem in the process. David Ford said: "It's time for Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams to sit down face-to-face to hammer out a settlement to restore devolution.

"Why do they insist on conduction their negotiations through the media? Every day the process lurches towards yet another crisis, so now is the time for real dialogue between the DUP and Sinn Féin.

"Enough is enough. Megaphone diplomacy simply does not work.

"Instead of the Prime Minster handing out meaningless praise and pretending that all is well on both side, he should be convening face-to-face talks to resolve these endless difficulties.

"Sinn Féin and the DUP must get round the table for talks now and abandon this badly-choreographed blame game if there is to be any hope at all of achieving genuine power-sharing."