Legislation on paramilitary fugitives to be introduced in the House of Commons early in November could jeopardise political negotiations on devolution, senior political sources have admitted.
The passage of the legislation through Westminster on the so-called "on-the-runs" could take until March or April. It will be debated in the British parliament at a sensitive and difficult period when the British and Irish governments are attempting to open up dialogue between Sinn Féin and the DUP on the restoration of the Northern Executive and Assembly.
The DUP and Ulster Unionist Party backed by the Conservative Party are pledged to mount fierce opposition to the Bill. Sinn Féin equally has made it clear that the deal on the paramilitary fugitives was essential to the IRA ending its armed campaign and decommissioning.
While Labour has a sufficient majority in the House of Commons, it is uncertain whether it will be possible for the British government to convince the House of Lords to adopt the legislation.
The North's political development minister David Hanson, who is charged with steering the Bill through parliament, already knows the depth of unionist antipathy to the legislation, which will provide an effective amnesty for "dozens" of mainly fugitive IRA paramilitaries.
Northern Secretary Peter Hain faced a difficult grilling at a meeting of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in Westminster on Wednesday where he confirmed that returned "on-the-runs" would not face prison sentences.
Committee members also interpreted his comments as confirming that anybody convicted of the 1,800 "cold case" murders of the Troubles would not have to serve time for their crimes.
The PSNI has created a special "historical cases" team of detectives to examine these killings. While anyone convicted of such murders will face some form of judicial process, Mr Hain seemed to make it clear they would not be imprisoned.
The "on-the-runs" will also face a judicial process but again no time in prison. Mr Hain told the committee that legislation to this effect was likely to be introduced in the House of Commons early next month.
Mr Hain said he understood the real concerns about the legislation but sometimes undesirable things had to be done in the interests of conflict resolution.
