Adams to challenge DUP over Agreement

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams will today challenge claims that the DUP is not intent on changing the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Adams, who is leading a party delegation to meet the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin, said he would be urging the Government not to adopt or promote positions which breach the Agreement's fundamental principles.

“I am also disconcerted by the claims of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs that Ian Paisley does not want to change the fundamentals of the Agreement.

“If the Taoiseach is right why then are the two governments offering up positions that in our view do attempt to change the fundamentals of the Agreement?” he said.

Today’s meeting is part of ongoing discussions aimed at restoring the powersharing administration at Stormont following intensive negotiations at Leeds Castle in Kent.

Last week, DUP leader Ian Paisley held his first political talks in Dublin with an Irish premier when he met Mr Ahern.

Sinn Féin described it as an important and symbolic departure but expressed concern that the two governments were now presenting the DUP position as reasonable.

“Sinn Féin wants to share power with the DUP. We envisage our party and Ian Paisley’s party doing business together with others on behalf of the people of this island.

“But we can only do so on terms which are based on equality. I have yet to discover the DUP’s contribution to this endeavour. In fact it appears to me on top of everything else that they are working to a longer timeframe than everyone else, including that set out by the two governments,” he said.

Meanwhile, Alliance Party General Secretary, Stephen Farry urged all parties to keep their focus on the prize of a reformed Agreement.

He said: “We now have the prospect over the next few weeks of realising a major prize, that of getting all major parties to buy into, or at least accept, a reformed Good Friday Agreement.

“It is important to recognise that the fundamental principles of the Agreement can be respected through a number of modifications to the structures.”

Mr Farry said the history of the last six years showed that the political structures were seriously flawed.

“The forces of conservatism, that are currently resisting necessary reforms to the Agreement, do not seem able to differentiate fundamental principles from particular structures.

“The DUP are already accepting the fundamental principles of the Agreement. This carries major significance which seems to be lost on many,” he added.