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11/10/2002
DUP pulls ministers out of power-sharing executive
The Democratic Unionist Party has pulled its ministers from the power-sharing executive today in the wake of allegations of IRA activity within the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).
The DUP's executive ministers, Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds, both walked away from the power-sharing executive at noon today ahead of the likely suspension of institutions on Monday. The decision followed a police raid on Sinn Féin's offices in Stormont and other locations in Belfast last week as part of investigations into allegations of an IRA spy network within the NIO.
Following his resignation as Minister for Regional Development, DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said it was now time for fresh elections.
He said: "We want to live in a democracy, which includes an electoral process and people taking democratic decisions, but in a form which does not have at its heart those who are in inextricably linked to violence.
"It is time to draw a line under the failed process and to look towards the future."
Former Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, claimed that last week's events had in the end proven who had "won the argument within unionism".
With suspension of the institutions likely on Monday, Downing Street is expected to appoint two ministers to the NIO to oversee the running of the province under direct rule.
Today's pull out by the DUP proceeded as Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble met with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern to discuss the ongoing crisis.
Following their meeting Mr Trimble said that a suspension of the institutions was "very much a second best option".
Last week, the Ulster Unionist leader said his party would pull out of power sharing this Tuesday unless the UK government proposed the expulsion of Sinn Fein from the Stormont administration – a position that has not changed.
If suspension takes place it will the fourth time this has occurred since the Good Friday Agreement institutions were set up 1998.
(MB)
The DUP's executive ministers, Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds, both walked away from the power-sharing executive at noon today ahead of the likely suspension of institutions on Monday. The decision followed a police raid on Sinn Féin's offices in Stormont and other locations in Belfast last week as part of investigations into allegations of an IRA spy network within the NIO.
Following his resignation as Minister for Regional Development, DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said it was now time for fresh elections.
He said: "We want to live in a democracy, which includes an electoral process and people taking democratic decisions, but in a form which does not have at its heart those who are in inextricably linked to violence.
"It is time to draw a line under the failed process and to look towards the future."
Former Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, claimed that last week's events had in the end proven who had "won the argument within unionism".
With suspension of the institutions likely on Monday, Downing Street is expected to appoint two ministers to the NIO to oversee the running of the province under direct rule.
Today's pull out by the DUP proceeded as Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble met with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern to discuss the ongoing crisis.
Following their meeting Mr Trimble said that a suspension of the institutions was "very much a second best option".
Last week, the Ulster Unionist leader said his party would pull out of power sharing this Tuesday unless the UK government proposed the expulsion of Sinn Fein from the Stormont administration – a position that has not changed.
If suspension takes place it will the fourth time this has occurred since the Good Friday Agreement institutions were set up 1998.
(MB)
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