Sinn Féin threaten to collapse North's Government
Sinn Féin will collapse the North’s Government if policing and justice powers are not devolved to Stormont as the party was promised, it warned today.
Republicans are involved in talks with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on the issue but today said they will pull Sinn Féin ministers out of Government if there is no movement.
Sinn Féin's Dáil leader Caoimhghín O' Caolain told supporters at a republican commemoration in Co Cavan that his party’s patience should not be tested.
“If we are forced to conclude that change will not be forthcoming from the Executive then we will have no option but to pull out our ministers and seek to put pressure where responsibility ultimately lies, which is on the British government in London,” he said.
The power-sharing Government in the North was established after the St Andrews talks which envisaged transfer of policing powers by May – but unionists ruled this out as being too early.
Sinn Féin first highlighted its growing frustration in June when it seemed poised to derail the election of DUP leader Peter Robinson as the North's First Minister when he took over from Ian Paisley.
After crisis talks involving the Irish Government and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the DUP and Sinn Féin committed themselves to intensive negotiations.
“There is now widespread and growing concern among republicans at the failure to transfer policing and justice powers from London to Belfast in due time,” Mr O' Caolain said.
“When Sinn Féin changed our policy on policing in the North, accepting that a new beginning was being made, it was with the prospect that policing and justice powers would be transferred by May of this year.
“It is now the end of August and we do not even have a date for transfer. This is totally unacceptable.”
The DUP and Sinn Féin, the two largest parties in the North, dominate the Executive and a number of its meetings have been cancelled as a result of the Sinn Féin/DUP split.
While some progress has been reported on the transfer of policing powers, the issue remains unresolved and the parties are still divided on other matters including the creation of an Irish language act and the future of the Maze prison site.
The Sinn Féin representative said: “Our negotiators are doing their utmost. But the DUP, the British government and the Irish Government should note that the patience of republicans should not be taken for granted.
“Our ministers are not in the Executive to fill seats, to make careers or to be administrators. Their mandate is to bring about lasting and fundamental change. That is why Sinn Fein put them there.
“If we are forced to conclude that change will not be forthcoming from the Executive then we will have no option but to pull out our ministers and seek to put pressure where responsibility ultimately lies, which is on the British government in London.”
He also rounded on the contribution of the Irish Government, saying it was more interested in weakening Sinn Féin’s electoral position in the Republic than advancing the peace process.
“It is time also that the Irish Government got its act together. We need to see a renewed and reinvigorated approach. The reality is that the Irish Government has been soft-pedalling on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement because it equates progress with electoral advances for Sinn Féin.
“No doubt Fianna Fáil in particular will object to this analysis of their approach. Very well, then, let them prove us wrong.
“Let them exert public pressure for the transfer of policing and justice powers, as well as the other outstanding issues, including Acht na Gaeilge.
“Let them prioritise the all-Ireland agenda and step up the development of our economy and infrastructure, our public services and business sector on an island basis.
“Above all, let them set out a programme for ending partition and reuniting the island and people of Ireland. For our part, we look forward to working with them on that programme.”
