Menu
19/10/2005
Unionists react with anger at SF allowances decision
Unionists have reacted with anger at the news that Sinn Fein is to have its Assembly allowances restored.
The news was confirmed by Secretary of State Peter Hain on Wednesday just a few hours after the sixth International Monitoring Commission report was released. Mr Hain also confirmed that on top of the £120,000 allowance he was considering restoring Sinn Fein's Westminster allowances of £500,000 to Sinn Fein's four MPs.
DUP Leader Dr Ian Paisley said: “For the Secretary of State to restore to Sinn Fein its Parliamentary Westminster allowance is outrageous and demeans the very name of Parliament.
"I have made the Secretary of State aware of my outrage at this decision, that it has no basis in evidence, and have warned him that it will cripple unionist confidence to see the IRA rewarded for doing nothing. No one should underestimate the seriousness of the situation that this causes to the political realm.”
UUP Assembly Group Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy said it was clear that the Secretary of State’s decision to restore Sinn Fein’s Assembly allowances was "part of the latest concession choreography to Republicans".
"This latest sweetener to Republicans adds to the litany of concessions, which have been handed to Republicans since the summer," Mr Kennedy said.
“It is important that the IMC remains independent at all costs and must not become manipulated by government as part of the on-going concession choreography."
IMC chairman Lord Alderdice also said the decision to return Sinn Fein's allowances was against the wishes of the IMC.
"While we do feel that something very significant happened potentially in the IRA statement and indeed in the decommissioning which was reported on, we felt it was too early to make a definitive judgement on the question of returning public funds to Sinn Fein at this time," he said.
(MB/SP)
The news was confirmed by Secretary of State Peter Hain on Wednesday just a few hours after the sixth International Monitoring Commission report was released. Mr Hain also confirmed that on top of the £120,000 allowance he was considering restoring Sinn Fein's Westminster allowances of £500,000 to Sinn Fein's four MPs.
DUP Leader Dr Ian Paisley said: “For the Secretary of State to restore to Sinn Fein its Parliamentary Westminster allowance is outrageous and demeans the very name of Parliament.
"I have made the Secretary of State aware of my outrage at this decision, that it has no basis in evidence, and have warned him that it will cripple unionist confidence to see the IRA rewarded for doing nothing. No one should underestimate the seriousness of the situation that this causes to the political realm.”
UUP Assembly Group Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy said it was clear that the Secretary of State’s decision to restore Sinn Fein’s Assembly allowances was "part of the latest concession choreography to Republicans".
"This latest sweetener to Republicans adds to the litany of concessions, which have been handed to Republicans since the summer," Mr Kennedy said.
“It is important that the IMC remains independent at all costs and must not become manipulated by government as part of the on-going concession choreography."
IMC chairman Lord Alderdice also said the decision to return Sinn Fein's allowances was against the wishes of the IMC.
"While we do feel that something very significant happened potentially in the IRA statement and indeed in the decommissioning which was reported on, we felt it was too early to make a definitive judgement on the question of returning public funds to Sinn Fein at this time," he said.
(MB/SP)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
08 February 2006
Sinn Fein Westminster allowances restored
UPDATE: MPs voted to restore allowances to Sinn Fein's five MPs following a debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon. Although the Republican party's MPs do not sit in Westminster they are entitled to allowances amounting to around £500,000 a year from the British parliament.
Sinn Fein Westminster allowances restored
UPDATE: MPs voted to restore allowances to Sinn Fein's five MPs following a debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon. Although the Republican party's MPs do not sit in Westminster they are entitled to allowances amounting to around £500,000 a year from the British parliament.
19 October 2005
Sinn Fein allowances restored on IRA inactivity
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain has confirmed that Sinn Fein is to be given back its £120,000 in Assembly allowances.
Sinn Fein allowances restored on IRA inactivity
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain has confirmed that Sinn Fein is to be given back its £120,000 in Assembly allowances.
11 March 2005
Sinn Fein to lose Westminster allowances
The House of Commons has voted to stop allowances for Sinn Fein MP's for a 12 month period commencing on April 1st. The Government motion was passed without a vote on Thursday following the debate over recommendations made by the Independent Monitoring Commission in February.
Sinn Fein to lose Westminster allowances
The House of Commons has voted to stop allowances for Sinn Fein MP's for a 12 month period commencing on April 1st. The Government motion was passed without a vote on Thursday following the debate over recommendations made by the Independent Monitoring Commission in February.
10 March 2005
House of Commons to debate sanctions against Sinn Fein
Secretary of State Paul Murphy has said that the House of Commons will have the opportunity to show their “deep disapproval” at ongoing republican criminality during a debate on financial sanctions against Sinn Fein’s four MPs. Thursday’s debate on the Government motion that allowances should be stopped will be a free vote in the House.
House of Commons to debate sanctions against Sinn Fein
Secretary of State Paul Murphy has said that the House of Commons will have the opportunity to show their “deep disapproval” at ongoing republican criminality during a debate on financial sanctions against Sinn Fein’s four MPs. Thursday’s debate on the Government motion that allowances should be stopped will be a free vote in the House.
10 February 2005
SF members sanctioned robbery – IMC report
The International Monitoring Commission (IMC) has said the IRA was behind last December’s Northern Bank robbery and that senior members of Sinn Fein had sanctioned the raid. In it’s fourth report, specially published as a result of the £26.
SF members sanctioned robbery – IMC report
The International Monitoring Commission (IMC) has said the IRA was behind last December’s Northern Bank robbery and that senior members of Sinn Fein had sanctioned the raid. In it’s fourth report, specially published as a result of the £26.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
