Ceasefire: British government may appoint independent arbitrator
The British government may be about to appoint an independent arbitrator to report on alleged breaches of the paramilitary ceasefires in the North.
It is something the Ulster Unionist Party has been demanding for some time, although the Northern Secretary will retain responsibility for ruling whether any group has broken its ceasefire.
UUP leader David Trimble wants the power to rule on whether the IRA or loyalists have broken their ceasefire to be taken away from the Northern Secretary and given to an independent arbitrator.
The British government wants a decision of such magnitude to remain with the Northern Secretary.
It is possible an academic or former senior law officer could be asked to bring foward regular reports on the status of the ceasefires.
This could give David Trimble a way of defending himself against the anti-Agreement critics within his own party, although one of them, David Burnside, has already dismissed it and said what is needed is action against Sinn Fein.
The proposal is opposed by Sinn Fein, which says it will achieve nothing, although the SDLP and Alliance Party support the idea.
The DUP have called the arbitrator proposal "pathetic" and meaningless.
