OPINION ON SUNDAY: Not too late to capture spirit of optimism

FOR almost two years, both the British and Irish Governments, along with the local political parties, have burnt the midnight oil at both Hillsborough Castle and Stormont Castle to try to restore devolution to Northern Ireland.

Next week, we will all converge on Leeds Castle for three days of intensive talks which are crucial to Northern Ireland's future.

What has to be done at Leeds Castle is clear enough. The painfully slow pace of progress in recent years has narrowed the focus to two remaining issues: paramilitary activity and power-sharing.

As the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach have said recently, the republican movement must finally complete the transition to exclusively peaceful means.

Paramilitary groups must cease their activities once and for all and their weapons must be put beyond use.

In response, unionists must commit themselves fully and wholeheartedly to all the political institutions.

All sides must take responsibility for policing the community in Northern Ireland and play an active role in its delivery.

These are not new requirements, they were set out very clearly by the Prime Minister in his speech in Belfast two years ago. Of course the Governments, too, will play their parts.

These goals can be reached if the will is there on all sides - and I believe a deal can be done.

I CAN understand the weariness and cynicism of those who will say: "Different Castle, the same issues. We have all been here before."

That is precisely why I believe this week is absolutely critical for the future of Northern Ireland.

Because, as the Prime Minister has said, we simply cannot continue with this endless round of crisis negotiation: if we fail next week we will have to find another way.

For as long as I have been involved in this process there has been something of an obsession with what this alternative might be.

What is 'Plan B'? The answer is very simple. Plan B is failure for the people of Northern Ireland and the frustration of their hopes.

And let there be no doubt that failure has consequences for all of us.

There is no alternative based on direct rule which will not be detrimental and unwelcome in different ways to every side in Northern Ireland.

There is devolution across the nations and regions of the United Kingdom.

The Government does not regard direct rule of Northern Ireland as an acceptable solution in the medium term, still less the long term.

No-one in Northern Ireland should fool themselves that it is a comfortable option.

Even those who have no constitutional objection to direct rule must realise that a period of care and maintenance by British Ministers is coming to an end.

There are vital decisions to be made about education, investment in public services, new infrastructure and economic development.

The entire public sector in Northern Ireland is about to be reformed through the Review of Public Administration. Politicians - unionist, nationalist, republican and loyalist - should be shaping these decisions: not to do so would be to fail this generation and the next.

NORTHERN Ireland needs local politicians working for the people and accountable to the people.

That is the only way forward.

Over the past six months, Brian Cowen and I have met with the parties to review the Good Friday Agreement, discussing the ideas which parties from all sides have offered as improvements to the operation of the institutions as the Agreement envisaged.

We have made progress but it has been slow and painful.

It is not too late to recapture some of the spirit of optimism which flowed so freely six years ago. We need to do so at Leeds Castle if we are to avoid the ever-growing indifference and irritation with the entire process among the people of Northern Ireland.

Indifference, apathy and disaffection is unhealthy anywhere - but in Northern Ireland it can be dangerous.

If Northern Ireland is to stand a chance of healing the wounds of the past, of building a new, inclusive society, of creating a better place for tomorrow's citizens, it needs a population which is engaged in peaceful politics.

For people to become engaged they need politicians who show themselves to be both committed and reasonable; principled and willing to be generous.

Leeds Castle is the moment for all of us - republicans and unionists, nationalists and loyalists, and governments, to be generous for the sake of the future.

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