DUP rules out power-sharing executive

The Democratic Unionist Party has published its 16-page proposal in which the party outlines its details to partially restore the NI Assembly.

The proposals contained in the 'Facing Reality' document stop short of a full resumption of Assembly business with powers devolved to local ministers and instead proposes a progressive devolution with the Assembly recalled and committees reinstated, but no ministers in post from the executive tier of regional government.

The DUP said that the resumption of power sharing must have cross-community support and that until then committees would shadow departments overseen by direct rule ministers from the NIO.

The proposals have not been welcomed by Sinn Fein who accused the DUP of planning to "hollow out the power sharing core" of the Good Friday Agreement.

Sinn Féin Vice President Pat Doherty said: "The two governments had an obligation to press ahead with the implementation of the Agreement as demanded by the overwhelming majority of Irish people who voted for it."

He said: "The Good Friday Agreement is an international treaty passed overwhelmingly by the Irish people in referendum. The two governments have an obligation to press ahead with its full implementation in the time ahead. The DUP cannot be allowed to veto this process.

"The IRA initiatives of last year provide an opportunity for the two governments to speedily put together a process which will deliver a restoration of the political institutions. We have been pressing the governments to do this in discussions over recent weeks and this has to be the focus of the planned talks in early February.

"The proposals published today by the DUP are a challenge to the two governments. They are an attempt to subvert the political process and delay the process of change.

"The two governments have an obligation to stand by the Agreement and its power sharing core. This includes the power sharing Executive. Sinn Fein will not countenance a move away from the fundamental principles which underpin the Good Friday Agreement."

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the DUP had no right to attempt to "write off" the Good Friday Agreement and set aside executive devolution.

The UUP favour a model of restoration which is similar to the DUP proposals in that executive functions will remain in the hands of NIO ministers, but also seeks a "sunset clause" that will see the Assembly dissolved, certainly by April 2007, if full agreement by all parties on Assembly power sharing cannot be reached.

(SP)