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16/01/2003
Sinn Fein should not be in government says Irish TD
A former junior minister in the Irish ministry of foreign affairs has said that republicans representatives should be excluded from the Northern Ireland executive as they have failed to honour their commitments to the Good Friday Agreement.
At a meeting of the Peace and Reconciliation Forum in Dublin today, Liz O'Donnell TD of the Progressive Democrats said that there had not been enough movement from paramilitary groups on decommissioning and disbandment, which was reflected in the lack of confidence felt by the Unionist community.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams rejected this, saying that his party had a democratic mandate that demanded its inclusion in government.
During his speech to the forum, he said: "There is of course much that is wrong and much injustice remains to be eradicated. But I am convinced if the leaders of unionism, nationalism and republicanism work together then the causes of conflict will be resolved peacefully.
"However difficult, I am committed to intensifying the required dialogue. The Good Friday agreement emphasises respect for cultural diversity. It creates a political framework in which there can be peaceful co-existence with Britain and on this island."
Ahead of today's forum meeting, the SDLP's Sean Farren said that the confidence necessary to re-establish devolution could be achieved after all aspects of the agreement had been "clearly seen to be delivered". He also said that ambivalence over the end of paramilitarism ran contrary to the spirit of the agreement.
"It is particularly important that the parties present, hear and understand such views so that approaches to resolving the impasse are based on the deepest possible appreciation of the reasons for that impasse," said Mr Farren.
“The end to paramilitarism foreseen in the Good Friday Agreement must, therefore, become a firm reality. Ambivalence on this issue is incompatible with the agreement’s key objective – a peaceful and totally democratic society.
“Neither loyalist nor republican paramilitaries have any role in such a society. They and their political associates have to recognise and act on that incompatibility if their support for the peace process is as real as they say it is.
“Alongside progress to end paramilitarism, there must also be commitments to fully implement all other aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. Threats to withdraw from political institutions together with unilateral sanctions undermine confidence among pro-agreement parties and weaken public support for the agreement as a whole.
“By reinforcing this message the Forum will make a valuable contribution to achieving an end to the present impasse.”
Despite the non-attendance of Unionist parties at the forum, members of the Unionist community, the Protestant Church and Orange Order have participated.
(GMcG)
At a meeting of the Peace and Reconciliation Forum in Dublin today, Liz O'Donnell TD of the Progressive Democrats said that there had not been enough movement from paramilitary groups on decommissioning and disbandment, which was reflected in the lack of confidence felt by the Unionist community.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams rejected this, saying that his party had a democratic mandate that demanded its inclusion in government.
During his speech to the forum, he said: "There is of course much that is wrong and much injustice remains to be eradicated. But I am convinced if the leaders of unionism, nationalism and republicanism work together then the causes of conflict will be resolved peacefully.
"However difficult, I am committed to intensifying the required dialogue. The Good Friday agreement emphasises respect for cultural diversity. It creates a political framework in which there can be peaceful co-existence with Britain and on this island."
Ahead of today's forum meeting, the SDLP's Sean Farren said that the confidence necessary to re-establish devolution could be achieved after all aspects of the agreement had been "clearly seen to be delivered". He also said that ambivalence over the end of paramilitarism ran contrary to the spirit of the agreement.
"It is particularly important that the parties present, hear and understand such views so that approaches to resolving the impasse are based on the deepest possible appreciation of the reasons for that impasse," said Mr Farren.
“The end to paramilitarism foreseen in the Good Friday Agreement must, therefore, become a firm reality. Ambivalence on this issue is incompatible with the agreement’s key objective – a peaceful and totally democratic society.
“Neither loyalist nor republican paramilitaries have any role in such a society. They and their political associates have to recognise and act on that incompatibility if their support for the peace process is as real as they say it is.
“Alongside progress to end paramilitarism, there must also be commitments to fully implement all other aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. Threats to withdraw from political institutions together with unilateral sanctions undermine confidence among pro-agreement parties and weaken public support for the agreement as a whole.
“By reinforcing this message the Forum will make a valuable contribution to achieving an end to the present impasse.”
Despite the non-attendance of Unionist parties at the forum, members of the Unionist community, the Protestant Church and Orange Order have participated.
(GMcG)
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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.
