Ford: Seeking reforms

The British and Irish governments have been warned by David Ford that the Good Friday agreement "simply doesn't work" and must be changed before a final peace deal is reached.

In an interview with ePolitix.com, the leader of Northern Ireland's Alliance Party has warned that further institutional changes are required in order to prevent future collapses of the power-sharing executive.

Ford also says that the parties came "very close" to reaching a comprehensive deal during the talks at Leeds Castle two weeks ago.

His comments came as attempts continued to conclude a new agreement, with Democratic Unionist Party leader Rev Ian Paisley holding talks in Dublin with Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern.

A key sticking point has been the DUP's call for Stormont ministers to be more accountable to the assembly.

That push has prompted criticism from both Sinn Fein and the SDLP, which have warned that the key principles of the Good Friday agreement must be preserved.

But speaking to this website, Ford said changes were necessary to make the agreement work effectively.

"I'm not sure the kind of changes which we have been advocating are a sticking point with Sinn Fein," he said.

"But certainly we have taken the view for about the last year that it is now quite clear that only reform is a realistic pro-agreement position.

"The agreement simply doesn't work in every detail of the way it was established in 1998.

"While the principles are absolutely sound we need to ensure we get structures of government which actually work, and clearly for the last two years nothing has worked.

"And back in November of 2001 we failed to elect a first minister and deputy first minister because the structures didn't work, and the Alliance had to take action to allow that to happen.

"So that's why we say we must have the reforms which will make the structures viable in the long term."

IRA arms

He also said there had been "significant steps forward" in attempts to reach a deal to bring about an end to all paramilitary activity.

"I think we came very close to an agreement at Leeds Castle but there wasn't enough time," Ford said.

He also confirmed that ministers were confident that the IRA was prepared to cease its paramilitary activity.

The details of the IRA's plans had not been revealed, he said.

"But what I can say is that what has been said to me by government sources is that we are well on the way to reaching that level of achievement.

"There certainly seem to be firm grounds for continuing to work on the other areas in the expectation that paramilitarism will also be solved alongside it."