Posted on 01/16/2006 2:35:54 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
NORTHERN Ireland's biggest Protestant party overnight ruled out sharing power with its rival Catholic counterpart, dealing a serious blow to hopes the semi-autonomous government could be restored following disarmament by the IRA.
There was "no prospect of an executive including Sinn Fein/IRA for the foreseeable future", Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said, referring to the now officially defunct Catholic paramilitary group and its political wing.
"In keeping with our manifesto commitments, the DUP will not countenance an executive in Northern Ireland that is inclusive of those who are not committed to explicitly peaceful and democratic means," he said.
The comments by the veteran 79-year-old hardliner appear to dash all remaining hopes that his party might again share power with Sinn Fein.
The Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive were created under the 1998 Good Friday peace and saw parties from both the majority Protestant and minority Catholic communities share power.
Both bodies were suspended in October 2002 after allegations of a spy ring involving the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Belfast's Stormont parliament building and a more general breakdown in trust.
A series of attempts by the British and Irish governments to resurrect the institutions has since failed, but hopes were given a boost last year by the IRA's decision to disarm.
In July, the IRA pledged to halt forever its armed campaign to end British rule in Northern Ireland and destroy all its weapons stocks, a move independent observers said later that year it had indeed done.
However, Mr Paisley and the DUP have remained deeply sceptical, insisting the IRA is still involved in terrorism and other criminality.
At the press conference, Mr Paisley said he had informed British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the end of last year that his party would "consider alternative ways of moving forward in Northern Ireland".
The DUP had now agreed its own blueprint for a return to devolved government, Mr Paisley said.
"I again warn the government of a need to deliver and be seen to deliver for the Unionist community," he said, referring to the overwhelmingly Protestant supporters of Northern Ireland's union with the rest of Britain," he said.
"We do not intend to give credibility to any process that is simply designed to bring into being an executive that includes those still committed to a paramilitary organisation and its furtherance of criminality."
The Ulster Unionist party, which represents more moderate Protestant opinion, responded by demanding Mr Blair recall the assembly with a six-week deadline to either sort itself out or be closed down for good.
"The people are fed up with politicians and the cost of keeping this place (the assembly) open," said party leader Reg Empey.
The IRA is evil, ans Paisley is just as bad.
I believe you are correct.
My first thought: Paisley isn't dead YET?!!!
What a curse he has been on No. Ireland...
Yup, two of a kind.
Ian Paisley....is he the preacher?
He is a great preacher, though it is unfortunate he can't find compromise on this matter.
He is a preacher. He's also a mound of hate. Most anti-Christian.
The IRA is evil, ans Paisley is just as bad.
Big difference between Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein/IRA - Paisley is not a terrorist. He may be a bigot, but he was always careful to keep his distance from the Loyalist terrorists.
No power sharing with Sinn Fein/IRA EVER - they are a terrorist group, and therefore must be destroyed. And there would be no need for a peace process if the IRA hadn't started murdering innocent people - north and south.
Just for the record, I'm a southern Irish Catholic.
Blame been shifted away from the IRA as usual ping.
Why should there be compromise with a terrorist group?
That is true - they only pretend they are Catholics.
And the IRA are angels I suppose?
No, of course not! The IRA are monsters.
I am well informed on the subject, but I am not going to get in an argument here with Paisley supporters.
Not a Paisley supporter - I just won't make him out to be the same as terrorists.
Thanks for the ping.
You are welcome!
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