Sinn Féin urges speedy return to talks
Efforts to revive devolution in Northern Ireland must be picked up ahead of elections, ministers in London and Dublin were told today.
As unionists waited to see if Chief Constable Hugh Orde will accuse the IRA this week of the £22m (€31m) Northern Bank heist, Sinn Féin chairman Mitchel McLaughlin called on the British and Irish governments to move quickly to build on the progress made in talks involving the DUP last year.
“Sinn Féin are eager to get back down to the business of seeing a deal done and the progress made last year built upon,” he said. “This can only happen on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
“Sinn Féin are not interested in long fingering this process until after elections. We believe that the job can be completed and completed quickly if the necessary political will is there.”
Northern Ireland’s politicians are facing local government elections this year but a British general election is also expected in May.
The DUP and Sinn Féin hope to stretch their lead over the Ulster Unionists and SDLP in both contests.
The political climate at Stormont may also be further tainted if the IRA is blamed by police for the raid on the Northern Bank’s vaults in Belfast city centre on December 20.
Many unionists will be closely watching Mr Orde’s meeting with the chairman and vice chairman of the Policing Board, Sir Desmond Rea and Denis Bradley.
Democratic Unionist MP Gregory Campbell is to table a House of Commons question next week asking the Government about the bank heist.
Mr Campbell’s colleague Sammy Wilson has said Mr Orde should clearly identify who was responsible regardless of the consequences for the talks.
“There must be no holding back by the Chief Constable for fear of the political consequences,” he said.
“If the IRA were involved then the public has a right to know and it is up to politicians to then decide what the political consequences for IRA/Sinn Féin are.”
Mr McLaughlin today said it was vital ministers in London and Dublin speedily re-engage with all of the parties to try and find a way forward.
“If the DUP are not up for this challenge then the process of change must move ahead without them,” he said.
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