Paisley flags phased devolution

Democratic unionist leader, the Reverend Ian Paisley today ruled out the prospect of full blown devolved government in Northern Ireland for the foreseeable future.

At a press conference at Stormont surrounded by MPs and Assembly members, he said the party was instead proposing a phased system of devolution.

The North Antrim MP said: “Given that there is no prospect of an inclusive Executive, I informed the (British) Prime Minister and the Secretary of State (Peter Hain) at the end of last year that we would consider alternative ways of moving forward in Northern Ireland and present them with a paper charging a way forward that would allow locally-elected representatives in the Northern Ireland Assembly to become more deeply involved in local issues.

“We have now completed our work on the way ahead.

“At both our party officer and Assembly Group meetings today we unanimously agreed the 16-page blueprint that is a realistic and achievable way of ensuring the foundation of good government for the people of Northern Ireland.

“The paper ’Facing Reality The Best Way Forward’ sets out what we believe is the only realistic hope of making progress.

“The proposals outline a system which provides for further building blocks when the foundations are firmly set and an enabling environment exists.”