Sinn Féin challenge SDLP over outreach work

An SDLP negotiator was today challenged by a republican rival to “move beyond sound bites” and get more involved in outreach work to unionists.

Sinn Féin councillor Joe O’Donnell launched an attack on former Belfast Lord Mayor Alban Maginness after he argued nationalists needed to persuade Protestants of the logic of a united Ireland.

Mr Maginness noted yesterday the Good Friday Agreement required a majority of people in Northern Ireland to back Irish unity – “not a majority of unionists, not a majority of nationalists, but a simple majority in the North (of Ireland)”.

“It is clear from the last census that democracy rather than demographics will resolve the problem of division.

“The challenge for the SDLP, as well as other thinking nationalists and republicans, is to persuade a significant section of the Protestant community as to the opportunities of a united Ireland.”

However in a direct challenge to the SDLP councillor’s claims that his party was the only one to have a “workable strategy” for unity, Sinn Féin’s Joe O’Donnell said his remarks were made after Gerry Adams offered to have talks with the Protestant Orange Order.

“If Alban Maginness actually believes that then I would challenge him and his party to move beyond sound bites and actually get involved in outreach work, particularly in interface areas,” the east Belfast councillor said.

“Sinn Féin have taken a lead role in recent years in working along the interface areas in Belfast with representatives from the unionist and loyalist community.

“The fruits of this work are now being seen this summer with much reduced levels of violence in interface areas. The SDLP have not involved themselves in this sort of activity.

“If Alban Maginness is serious about his view of the SDLP’s position then I would challenge him to get involved in these sorts of programmes instead of simply issuing press releases.”