08/03/2006

UUP leader says normalisation plans 'premature'

Following the publication of the latest IMC Report, UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey said people would be confused following today's Independent Monitoring Commission report.

Sir Reg said: “People will be confused at the difference in tone between January’s IMC report and today’s report.

"The fact remains that the IRA is still issuing instructions to its members to desist from any criminal activities. It clearly indicates that the IRA is a fully capable organisation.

"Furthermore it illustrates the continued threat posed by dissident republicans and loyalists."

Sir Reg said that Ulster Unionists believed that the government was acting prematurely by removing any locally recruited security force for the first time since partition.

NI Secretary of State Peter Hain said that the remaining commitments of the first tranche of normalisation would be completed within the next two months.

Under demilitarisation plans agreed between the British Government and the main NI parties last August, troop numbers will be reduced and watchtowers in south Armagh will go.

(SP/GB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

03 February 2010
No DUP/UUP Merger Says Empey
Ulster Unionist Leader Sir Reg Empey has quashed reports his party is set to merge with the DUP. Sir Reg said the UUP remains 100% committed to its electoral pact with the UK Tories. At an Ulster Unionist Executive meeting last night, the party rejected what it called "bogus unionist unity talks".
25 November 2024
Other News In Brief
DfC Launch Public Consultation On Gender Pay Gap A consultation on proposed changes to Section 19 of the Employment Act (Northern Ireland) relating to the requirements for employers to publish information on the pay of male and female employees has been launched by the Department for Communities.
12 April 2002
High level discussions held on Harland & Wolff’s future
Numerous political figures have been in discussions with regard to securing a viable future for Harland&Wolff at its site in East Belfast.
15 June 2009
Robinson Should Step Aside, Says Sir Reg
First Minister Peter Robinson should include himself in the DUP Executive reshuffle, expected to be unveiled within the next 24 hours - that's according to UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey.
07 April 2009
£44m Contract Signed For Belfast College
Last week's gloom over engineering job losses in Northern Ireland was lightened on Monday with news that the £44m educational building contract had been signed. Belfast Metropolitan College's (BMC) new multi-million pound city centre campus will be located in the Titanic Quarter in east Belfast.