SDLP: Failed devolution 'bad for nationalists'

Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley has proved last December’s failed deal to restore devolution in Northern Ireland was bad for nationalists, it was claimed tonight.

During a visit to Dublin, nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan claimed the DUP leader’s comments about the circumstances in which he would share power with Sinn Féin proved his party’s scepticism about last year’s deal was right.

“Ian Paisley’s eagerness to keep elements of the December deal and use it as a future benchmark shows just how bad that was for nationalists,” the Foyle Assembly member argued.

“It was a good deal for the DUP and that is why he is trying to ensure that as much of it remains as possible.

“His comments also vindicate the SDLP’s position of resisting demands for exclusion (of Sinn Féin) and a voluntary coalition.

“The comments show that Ian Paisley’s preference is for a bad deal which he negotiated with Sinn Féin.”

Mr Durkan was commenting after a series of meetings with political parties in the Republic of Ireland ahead of a debate on the murder of 33-year-old Belfast forklift driver Robert McCartney allegedly by members of the IRA.

Efforts to revive power-sharing in Northern Ireland have stalled following the collapse of last December’s failed agreement between the British and Irish governments, Sinn Féin and the DUP.

But they have been further damaged by December’s £26.5m (€38m) Northern Bank robbery in Belfast which was blamed on the IRA – and by the murder of Robert McCartney.

Relations between the Government and Sinn Féin, in particular, have soured following claims by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern that Sinn Féin leaders knew the robbery was being planned by the IRA when negotiations were taking place last year.

Republicans have also been angered by a series of hard-hitting attacks on their party by Justice Minister Michael McDowell, accusing them of criminality and naming senior Sinn Féin leaders as members of the IRA’s Army Council.

Mr Durkan said tonight that he had urged political parties in the Republic of Ireland and the Dáil not to let republicans dictate the pace of the political and peace process.

For far too long, he claimed, the IRA had been indulged in bowling up short on their commitments and then constructing a new negotiating process to get them to do what everybody wanted.

The SDLP leader said nationalists and others in the process were very clear about what they expected from republicans in terms of ending paramilitary and criminal activity.

He added: “Both governments and others in the process should learn from the example of the family of Robert McCartney.

“When we set standards we do not accept anything less than those standards.

“If there are advances, we accept that they are advances but we do not accept them as a satisfactory outcome.”