DUP launch British Isles document

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has today launched its proposals for improving Northern Ireland’s relationship with the other regions of the British Isles in a 28 page document entitled “North South East West” .

North Belfast MP, Nigel Dodds said the document set out the Party’s principles and approach in this area and was is consistent with previous stated policy and builds upon their manifesto commitments.

"It deals with all of the relationships within the British Isles and suggests a way in which constitutional stability can provide the most positive basis for relationships between the parties in Northern Ireland," Mr Dodds said.

"At the core of the party’s proposals on North South relations is the concept of accountability. The arrangements which were created under the Belfast Agreement were not accountable to the people of Northern Ireland. We believe that the accountability of all arrangements to the Northern Ireland Assembly is a precondition to any relationship with the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Dodds also said his party wanted to clear up the "constitutional instability" which he claims is being brought about by the question of a possible border poll.

He said: "It is clear from the last census that there is no prospect of there being a majority of people in Northern Ireland being in favour of a united Ireland in the foreseeable future.

"In order to create the best context to make progress in Northern Ireland we believe that there should be an agreement between the parties, backed by legislation which would prevent a Border Poll for the next thirty years."

Responding to today's proposals, Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble said there was "very little substance" to the DUP's latest offering.

"The proposals are little more than a window dressing exercise," the Upper Bann MP said. "The DUP's proposals on East-West ignore the current arrangements that are already in place and make no mention of the Joint Ministerial Councils.

"The Five tests that they have set themselves have already been met. The remainder of the document is political froth with very little substance," he said.

(MB)