DUP under pressure over Assembly role

Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party was under pressure today to spell out whether they wanted a political deal in Northern Ireland or not.

Ulster Unionist Leader David Trimble expressed optimism that normal politics could be returned to Northern Ireland within weeks, but he said it depended on whether the DUP still wanted to wreck the Good Friday Agreement or wanted to work the political institutions.

At the same time the leader of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Rev Ken Newell, criticised the DUP and said they needed to explain why they did not “reel in” the opportunities that presented themselves at the Leeds Castle talks.

Speaking after the three days of discussions, Mr Trimble was up beat about the prospects despite the failure of the British and Irish governments and local parties to tie down a deal for the restoration of devolution.

“The (British) government believes it is in a position now to get republicans not to just begin decommissioning, but to complete it and to wind up the private army.

“We have yet to see the response from the leadership of the republican movement and we expect to get that in the next week or so,” said Mr Trimble.

But on BBC 1’s Breakfast with Frost, he said there was still the problem of whether the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party was now ready to work with the suspended Assembly or was on a wrecking mission.

The DUP had raised a whole lot of objections about the operation of the Assembly, he said.

“What we don’t know is whether they are trying to genuinely improve its operation or whether they are trying to wreck it.”

That would become clear as talks between the governments and the parties continued at Stormont over the coming weeks, he said.

Political arrangements had to reflect the nature of society in Northern Ireland and that would mean finding ways of the parties working together.

He said if the DUP were “coming into the process rather than hanging back as they have done over the last half dozen years”, that would be a good thing.

However, if they were joining in only to “try to spoil the party for everyone else” it was not a good idea, said Mr Trimble.

The DUP’s engagement with the other parties – with Sinn Féin through intermediaries was to be welcomed, he said.

“I hope it continues and I hope we see the DUP playing its full role within the arrangements that were crafted half a dozen years ago. I think that is possible, but we will wait to see what happens over the next few weeks.”

“The next few weeks will be quite important. I am optimistic and I hope we will see politics in Northern Ireland approaching normality.”

Meanwhile the Rev Ken Newell said the DUP needed to spell out whether they really had a desire to make devolved government work.

He described the Leeds Castle talks as a “lost opportunity” and said the DUP needed to explain what their reservations had been.

“I certainly feel the DUP need to clarify for us what were the reasons they didn’t reel this opportunity in and make the most of it.

“They obviously have moved from a situation now where the focus is no longer on the wrapping up of paramilitary activity – that I think will have a life of its own and be done largely with the British government.

“What will take a few days to become clear is what were the reservations that the DUP had. We need to be fully aware of those and then make our own judgment.”

Mr Newell said he believed a “great opportunity” had been missed and he had a sense of disappointment.

The Church of Ireland primate, Archbishop Robin Eames said he shared the disappointment, but admitted that realistically he was not surprised.

Dr Eames said over a relatively short time, politically elected leaders had been asked to try to put the clock back “not just over the summer but over the generations”.

He added: “I think we have to recognise that there is a wonderful prize on hand now and I just beg the political leaders in the coming week not to lose sight of the long picture.

“There is a change now to make something dramatic, to make something real happen and most people want that to happen.