Trimble wants sanctions body quickly

The British and Irish governments were urged today to quickly “iron out” problems over a proposed sanctions body for parties which are in breach of the Good Friday Agreement.

After surviving a vote of his party’s ruling council stopping short of rejecting London and Dublin’s proposals for the peace process, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble called for the body to be put swiftly in place.

“I am seeking discussions with the Secretary of State (Paul Murphy), the British and Irish Governments on this matter,” the Upper Bann MP confirmed.

“It is all very well for both governments to express the hope that somehow in the months ahead we will be able to come back and to proceed in the way we all want to, but they must think seriously about how they are going to do it.

“My view is that we need to press ahead as quickly as possible with sanctions, tying up the loose ends and ironing out the problems that still exist with the mechanics of the regime.

“We need to have an effective sanctions mechanism in place should republicans default on their acts of completion.”

In the joint declaration released by Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern last month, both governments proposed an independent body to monitor and report on the ending of paramilitary activity and moves to scale down the British army presence in Northern Ireland.

The group would be made up of four members – two appointed by the British government (with one nominee from Northern Ireland) and one each from the Irish and US governments.

The body would consider allegations of non-compliance and recommend what action should be taken to Dublin and London.

Both governments would consult an implementation group involving Assembly parties and if necessary a sanctions motion would be put to MLAs at Stormont.

If the motion failed to attract cross-community support, it would be up to the British government, in consultation with the Irish, to take action.

Mr Trimble said today the body must be put in place swiftly to make republicans realise they would pay “a heavy price” if they failed to deliver promises under the Good Friday Agreement.

He continued: “Above all, effective sanctions offer the lever that we need to move the Republican Movement over their final hurdle.

“It is time for them to deliver genuine acts of completion. If they fail to do this and continue to oppose sanctions, we can only conclude that they believe they will fall foul of them at some point in the future.”