Subscribe to the News Feed Newsback to News

Monday, 09 November 2009

Reserve axe is 'deal-breaker'- DUP

Jeffrey Donaldson claims axing the PSNI's full-time reserve is a deal-breaker

DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has said the decision to axe the PSNI's full-time reserve could potentially scupper negotiations to transfer policing and justice to Stormont.

Mr Donaldson said there had to be confidence within the unionist community before devolution could happen.

"There are a number of issues that we are dealing with at the moment with the government. The Full-Time reserve is one of those issues, parades another, PPWs and so on", Jeffrey Donaldson told UTV.

"We have made it clear to the Prime Minister, we need to have these issues resolved because it is about building the confidence that is necessary for policing and justice devolution to take place, so in a sense all of these issues are about building public confidence, and unless that confidence is there devolution doesn't happen," he added.

His remarks followed comments by First Minister Peter Robinson that changes had to be made to how contentious Orange parades were managed before his party signed up.

Sinn Fein claim both issues are preconditions the DUP have thrown into the mix at the last minute in a bid to delay devolution in the face of hard-line opposition both inside and outside the party.

Sinn Fein Junior Minister Gerry Kelly said they had not been identified as a make or break issue by the DUP until after the outstanding financial problems were resolved.

Last month Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered £1bn to support the new justice ministry.

"A couple of weeks ago we get the parades as a precondition, then we get Jeffrey Donaldson today saying the retention of the full time reserve is a precondition," Gerry Kelly said.

"Jeffery Donaldson did not help the position this morning; it was a very foolish statement. We know what Patten said about the Full-Time Reserve they are on their way out and to make another pre-condition and to try and turn back the wheels of time is not going to sort this problem out," Mr Kelly told UTV.

While Mr Kelly said the DUP's stance had created "very difficult circumstances" within the executive, he rejected as "foolish" speculation that republicans would walk away from the powersharing institutions if progress was not made.

He also questioned how long the £1bn offer would remain on the table in the current economic climate.

"We need to get this sorted by Christmas," he said.

Send to a friend

Email To
Your Name
Comment

Comments

6 Comments

At 20:55 on 10 November 2009, seamas wrote:

Since the foundation of the state Unionists have relied on their built in majority to stay in power and preserve the union. Their only strategy has been to repress nationalists for fear that we would be able to over come that built majority and threaten the existence of the state. That old tactic simply won’t work anymore. NI in 2009 is totally different than it was in 1959. Politically,socially,educationally,technologically and demographically NI has changed. The Donaldsons and Allisters of this world haven’t realised that. They still cling to the hope that someday we’ll be back in 1959 but its never going to happen.

At 17:04 on 10 November 2009, Tim Martin wrote:

What! Another deal breaker by the DUP! Thats the best part of the whole party, it breaks. Please give me one! A break that is! Taidhgin

At 10:21 on 10 November 2009, Jim wrote:

Right on Paul; you hit the nail right on the head. By sharing power unionists would negate the very reason they insisted on the state being created in the first place.

At 06:13 on 10 November 2009, Martin wrote:

Well said Cormac every party needs to be held accountable and not on the old rhetoric. On this course its headed for civil war and no one wants that. Are the elected officals stupid or are they playing the people of Ireland into a quaqmire? Its time for them to show true leadership and take the North out of this economic stress that is fueling the paramilitaries on both sides. Hey the North just axed the reserves in the PSNI so how is it going to help the common man now. Martin..

At 22:30 on 09 November 2009, Paul wrote:

Are we all so blind that we cannot see that Devolution would take away the very foundation that Unionism was built on?These folk will not accept any agreement that would give equal rights to what they would see as the other side.Democrcy is not in their vocabulary.Sorry but its true.

At 21:44 on 09 November 2009, doirecormac wrote:

I personally don't think policing and justice should be devolved - if you look at the mess this lot made of the 11+ god help us if they get control of this crucial area of our lives. However, i do wonder if the DUP want it either - first the sticking point was the parades commission, then it was a compo package for the RIR, now it's the fulltime reserve. I think it would be best to save time if they just A) admitted whether they wanted it or not or B) if they do, make public the whole list of their demands so we see where we stand and how far we have progressed.