Unionists vow to block SF from ministries

Ulster Unionists opposed to the Good Friday Agreement today vowed to block Sinn Féin appointments to key ministries at Stormont.

With eight days left until polling day for Northern Ireland’s Assembly Election, a number of UUP candidates said they would veto any move to appoint Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly or any other member of the party as minister for policing and justice.

The group, which includes rebel Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson, also said they would join forces with other parties to prevent Sinn Féin from claiming key government ministries such as health and education.

Both portfolios were occupied by Sinn Féin’s Bairbre de Brun and Martin McGuinness in the last power-sharing executive.

A statement issued on behalf of the Assembly rejected the British and Irish governments’ proposals for implementing the Good Friday Agreement.

The statement said: “We reject the joint declaration as a satisfactory basis for progress and oppose further concessions to Sinn Féin/IRA including any amnesty or apparent amnesty for fugitives from justice.

“We will strive for a better agreement that will deliver political stability and a real and lasting peace in Northern Ireland.”

Anti-Agreement UUP candidates said divisions within unionism had weakened their community's cause.

They vowed to “promote greater co-operation” between unionist parties in any review of the Good Friday Agreement called by the Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy after the November 26 election.

This would ensure the unionist case was “effectively represented” in negotiations.

The group said they would “hold firmly to the requirement that the IRA deals conclusively with the decommissioning of their illegal weapons, ends all their terrorist and criminal activity and disbands their illegal organisation.

“There can be no place for unreconstructed terrorists in the government of Northern Ireland.”

Their statement also said: “We will only consent to the devolution of policing and justice powers when there is a fully peaceful and democratic society with wholehearted support for the police.

“We will veto any move to appoint Gerry Kelly or any other IRA representative as Minister for Policing and Justice.

“We will give priority to improving public services, including education and health, and will seek to cut the cost of bureaucracy so that funding can be targeted where it is most needed.

“We will co-operate with other parties in an effort to prevent Sinn Féin/IRA claiming key government ministries including Education and Health.”