Conclusions of Meeting with the Alliance Party on 8 May at 15:55

Government Proposal

A symbolic first meeting would take place in London to be followed by a series of substantial meetings somewhere in Northern Ireland, but not the Stormont Estate. At the close of the Strand 2 process a further symbolic meeting would be held in Dublin which would also act as the transition to Strand 3, which would begin in Dublin.

Logistical Arrangements

That a few key members of each team should stay behind until the early evening in case clarification or amendment to the proposal was required.

That once the round of bi-laterals had been completed and any clarification sought, the process should adjourn to allow people time to consider the key elements of a proposition.

The Secretary of State would consult the Irish Government who had been patient over the past days to ascertain their views.

That the parties should reconvene on Monday to allow them the opportunity to consult their supporters and public opinion on this subject.

That should any party wish to have contact with the Government Team in the meantime then it was open for them to seek it.

That at the reconvened meeting on Monday, should no further progress be possible then the time would have come to draw the process to a conclusion.

Confidentiality Concerns

The Alliance Party noted its concerns that journalists appeared to have a lot of information about the meetings and this needed to be addressed.