SDLP accused of endangering unionists over agreement

The SDLP was today accused of encouraging unionists in the North to believe they could water down the Good Friday Agreement.

In the build-up to political talks expected next month, Sinn Féin MP Conor Murphy called on his rivals to withdraw their May 2004 proposals for civic administrators to run government departments until devolution returned.

The Newry and Armagh MP argued: “When the SDLP first published their proposals for British government-appointed commissioners to run the 10 departments instead of locally-elected and accountable politicians, as demanded by the Agreement, they gave succour to those rejectionist unionists who wished to move away from the power-sharing core of the Agreement.

“This was a deeply flawed strategy and is one which is completely unacceptable to the vast majority of nationalists and republicans who voted for the Good Friday Agreement.

“Despite the encouragement given by the SDLP to those seeking to rewrite the Agreement, Sinn Féin successfully defended the principles which underpin the Agreement in the discussions in late 2004.

“Recently it seems that the SDLP are once again naively repeating the mistakes they have made in the past.

“They have opened up communication with the unionist parties in advance of planned talks chaired by the two governments on proposals which are less than that demanded by the Agreement.

“Once again they are giving encouragement to those within unionism who believe they can dilute or subvert the rights and entitlements demanded by the people across Ireland who voted for the Agreement in 1998.”

With the British and Irish governments planning an intensive push to restore devolution on the back of the latest report on paramilitary activity by the Independent Monitoring Commission, the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists this week ruled out the likelihood in the foreseeable future of power-sharing featuring Sinn Féin.

The party, however, confirmed it was planning to table a 16 page document advocating phased devolution – giving the province’s 108 Assembly members some role short of forming their own multi-party executive.

The Ulster Unionists are also believed to be putting together their own proposals.

In May 2004, SDLP leader Mark Durkan proposed 10 leaders from business, trade unions and community life should be nominated by both the British and Irish governments to run the devolved government departments.

The panel would have to be approved by Assembly members on a cross-community vote at Stormont and would cease their work once MLAs were able to nominate their own multi-party executive.

The plan was slated by Sinn Féin, unionists and other parties.

Mr Murphy said today that, as the lead nationalist party, Sinn Féin would resolutely defend the Agreement and its power-sharing and cross-border institutions.

“Unlike the SDLP we will not settle for less,” he said.

“The SDLP now need to make it clear that their proposals for commissioners have been binned and that they are prepared to join with the rest of nationalist and republican opinion on the island and defend the Good Friday Agreement.”