DUP's Robinson denies decommissioning ploy
Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Peter Robinson today rejected criticism that his party’s proposals for restoring the Assembly were a devious attempt to avoid IRA decommissioning.
Mr Robinson argued that the proposals for “corporate devolution”, in which the 108 member Assembly would be responsible for decision making, would provide an incentive for republicans to give up their weapons.
Under the plans unveiled yesterday, the party insisted there would be no prospect of Sinn Féin taking part in an Executive at Stormont until IRA disarmament.
Mr Robinson said the paramilitary wing of republicanism was an obstacle to Sinn Féin’s progress.
“The advantage for the system is that it actually, for the first time, makes Sinn Féin want to get rid of its weapons.
“If it wants to have a full role in the government of Northern Ireland, then it can get rid of the weapons. It is completely within its control,” he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Inside Politics Programme.
Yesterday, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble accused the DUP of watering down demands for IRA decommissioning before devolution could be restored.
“I don’t think those who voted for the DUP voted for that,” he added.
The proposals were also criticised by the nationalist politicians, with some claiming they were a rehash of failed policies of the past.
Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy said it “smacks to me of an attempt to return to majority rule.
“Nationalists voted for inclusive government. Nationalists voted for the all-Ireland architecture in the agreement,” he added.
SDLP Leader Mark Durkan said the proposals were long on rhetoric and scant on detail.
“The DUP’s strand one proposals appear to fall short of the agreement,” he added.
The political institutions in the North have been suspended since October 2002 when allegations of IRA intelligence gathering at Stormont first surfaced.
Earlier this week, parties elected to the Assembly in last November’s elections, met at Stormont to begin a review of the Good Friday Agreement.
