SF disappointed on Northern representation
Sinn Fein remains disappointed that the Irish Government appears to have lost focus on plans to allow Northern Ireland MPs to participate in the Republic’s political institutions, Gerry Adams has claimed.
By:Press Association
28/06/2006 11:43:10
As Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern prepared to head to Belfast tomorrow for talks involving British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Northern Ireland parties, Mr Adams insisted the issue of Northern representation in the political life of the Republic must be addressed.
“There is particular disappointment in republican circles that the issues around Northern representation in southern institutions have not been addressed,” he said.
“At the time of the Good Friday Agreement this was an issue the Taoiseach agreed would have to be dealt with and there was an all-party Oireachtas committee on constitutional reform headed by Brian Lenihan which recommended Northern MPs participate in debates affecting them.
“In July last year the Taoiseach gave a commitment that he would act on this and within a few months that was torn up in public on the excuse that other parties in the south were not prepared to go along with this.
“As far as republicans are concerned, this is an issue which needs to be addressed.”
Last October, Mr Ahern wrote to other party leaders in the Dail proposing that Northern Ireland`s 18 MPs participate in a Committee of the whole House.
The MPs would be invited to make presentations to the committee on issues relating to the Agreement and Northern Ireland.
The move was heavily criticised by unionists, who insisted they would not take part.
The Taoiseach`s proposal was ditched after it was rejected by the leaders of the other parties in the Dail.
