Robinson hits out at SF
DUP leader Peter Robinson has launched another blistering attack on Sinn Fein over the devolution of policing and justice.
The First Minister's broadside came as the Assembly debated the Justice Bill at Stormont.
He referred to the speech made by a leading republican at an IRA commemoration in Dunloy over the weekend and accused Sinn Fein of using an "unelected and unknown" spokesman to "utter dark, dire and menacing threats against the institutions in Northern Ireland".
Sinn Fein chairman Declan Kearney accused the party's partners in government of adopting a "train wreck" strategy towards the institutions, sparking DUP fury.
Mr Robinson blasted republicans again.
He said: "Even a cursory inspection will show that the only party threatening to wreck the political process is Sinn Fein.
"The DUP is not seeking to walk away from either the Assembly or Executive. I made the DUP position clear and comprehensible at my party conference.
"Nobody listening to what I said would be in any doubt about our commitment to making devolution work and making progress on policing and justice.
"As they appear incapable of understanding any message normal folk can easily digest, let me give it to them in liquidised form. The DUP supports devolution without equivocation."
He accused Sinn Fein of trying to create instability.
"Sinn Fein have now told us that the process is in 'meltdown'; it is in 'freefall' and now they say unless their demands are met there will be 'political consequences'.
"Sinn Fein is creating the very instability that many people believe is an obstacle to devolving more powers."
Mr Robinson once again stated that his party would not be coerced.
He said: "The DUP will not be bullied or threatened into taking any decision it cannot embrace on logical and rational grounds; they insist on dealing with the outstanding issues and refuse to close a deal without a satisfactory outcome; the DUP keeps its manifesto pledge maintaining that devolution of policing and justice will happen only when community confidence exists."
Other parties said the two government partners were equally to blame for the growing crisis.
Speaking of the debate on the Justice Bill on Tuesday, SDLP MLA Declan O'Loan said both parties were delaying devolution.
He said: "The SDLP has been consistent that we want the devolution of justice and policing sooner rather than later. In fact, we tabled proposals that would have the department in place in six days' time.
"Yet, Sinn Fein, which tells us it wants a date for devolution before Christmas, voted against these plans – while the DUP definition of what 'without undue delay' on the transfer of powers means, which they signed up to a year ago, changes upon which hardliner is speaking on their behalf."
Alliance leader David Ford called on the two parties to negotiate.
He said: "This ridiculous megaphone diplomacy must end. Every time either party is on TV or radio they start another row in relation to the devolution of justice, dragging in all kinds of irrelevant issues.
“Going on TV in order to say something unhelpful plays right into the hands of those who want to see the Assembly brought down. The DUP and Sinn Fein need to realise that the devolution of justice is a vital part of political progress here and should not use negotiations as a tribal power game.
“The parties must get around the table immediately, agree a way forward and agree a policy programme for the future department.”
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Monday 28 May 2012
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