DUP reaction to Sinn Fein’s policing vote
The time for true and visible Sinn Fein support for policing has arrived, the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists has said.
MONDAY 29/01/2007 09:58:19
By:Press Association
Speaking after the historic vote yesterday, the party leader said they (the DUP) had forced republicans to recognise the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Delegates at a special Sinn Fein conference in Dublin voted overwhelmingly to work with the service.
Mr Paisley said: “The DUP has forced Sinn Fein to recognise support for the police and the rule of law as an issue of paramount importance for which there can be no other way. Sinn Fein must now walk this road.
“No post-dated action can take the place of real delivery. The postponements must come to an end.
“The time for true, visible and open support for the police and law enforcement has arrived.”
“This shift means telling police about crime, taking seats on accountability bodies like the Policing Board and District Policing Partnerships.”
Mr Paisley said anything less than full implementation of Sinn Fein`s commitments would render the meeting valueless.
“Only with real delivery can the way be cleared for a full return to democracy and a facing up to the everyday needs and requirements of the people of Northern Ireland,” he said.
“The site must be cleared before proper building can begin. All Ulster people, across both the religious and political divides, know that it is now or never.”
The DUP, the majority unionist party, will be expected to share power with Sinn Fein by the time the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive is restored on March 26.
That was part of the deal agreed last October by the British and Irish Governments at St Andrews in Scotland.
Ian Paisley`s party colleague, Nigel Dodds, has questioned whether Sinn Fein support for policing could be proved in time for the restoration of a devolved government by the end of March.
The North Belfast MP said there was potential for political progress after the Sinn Fein vote but said what was needed was delivery on the ground.
“The question today for Sinn Fein is `Why are you continuing to delay?”`
The DUP policy was that there could be no power-sharing with Sinn Fein in government until republicans had demonstrated their commitment to supporting policing and the rule of law.
Condemning the lack of a clear-cut decision, he said: “If they are going to stick to this policy then there will certainly be no delivery by 26 March and therefore there can`t be the time for the delivery or the testing.
DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said: “We are prepared to share power in circumstances where all the parties in the Government are upholding the rule of law.
“I think it is a fairly reasonable point to make that in circumstances where Sinn Fein have indicated in words that they are prepared to support the police, that this is simply translated into practical co-operation on the ground.
“After all, with a history going back for many decades of involvement in criminality and violence, I think people want to be sure that what Sinn Fein have said they will do, they do.
“It`s now up to Sinn Fein to deliver in terms of fulfilling the pledges they made yesterday.”
However, republican critic Dr Willie McCrea from the Democratic Unionist Party, said: “Details of the outcome will bring no surprises as the whole exercise has been carefully choreographed for the Dublin pantomime.
“The heavily qualified decision on policing, law and order etc, is a kick in the teeth for all those who portray Sinn Fein as having come out of the dark ages into the light of democracy.
“The reality, however, is far different as Sinn Fein has failed the democratic test and has not moved away from the mindset of the terrorist.”
