Victims' commission row halts Assembly legislation
A row over proposals to elevate one of four victims' commissioners to a more senior position has led to the postponement of legislation in the Assembly.
It is understood that the DUP and Alliance Party wish one of the four commissioners to be promoted to a chief commissioner position while Sinn Fein want the four appointees to remain equal and to reach decisions on consensus.
The final stages of the Victims and Survivors bill was pulled from today's Assembly agenda only minutes before it was to be debated in the house.
The Alliance Party proposed amendment to the legislation to promote one commissioner and it is understood the DUP is strongly backing them.
The DUP is apparently insisting that this proposal be adopted.
But Sinn Fein now say the DUP has gone back on a agreement made between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness on the matter in late 2007.
It is understood that Ian Paisley, DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson or Deputy First minister Martin McGuinness were away from the Assembly today and were not involved in discussions which led to the legislative process being put on hold.
The creation of the a victims' commissioner was controversial, with some critics claiming the long delay in making an appointment and repeat recruitment drives underlined disagreement between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness.
The First and Deputy First ministers planned to appoint one commissioner but in January announced they would appoint a four-man team, which further prompted claimed they had been unable to agree.
The appointment of Patricia McBride, the sister of an IRA man shot dead by the SAS, as one commissioners angered some unionist victims of terrorism and the creation of the body is now subject to a legal challenge.
The other three commissioners are former TV broadcaster Mike Nesbitt, ex-interim victims' commissioner Bertha McDougall and Brendan McAllister of Mediation NI.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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