Sunday, March 25, 2007
The DUP Executive Motion
The resolution of the DUP executive passed yesterday by a reported 90%.
“The DUP is always anxious to make progress on a basis that is stable and which can command community confidence. Very significant advances have been made over the years since the DUP was mandated as the voice of unionism and our strategy is still working. We acknowledge that a significant opportunity exists to have devolution returned in a context which can make a real and meaningful improvement in the lives of all the people of Northern Ireland. We wish to advance that prospect consistent with our renewed and strengthened electoral mandate and based on our manifesto pledges.
The Party Officers having consulted widely, weighed up all the relevant matters and reviewed progress on outstanding matters recommend to the Party’s Central Executive Committee that the DUP would support and participate fully in a Northern Ireland Executive if powers were devolved to it on an agreed date in May of this year. Moreover, we are willing to bridge the short gap between now and then with preparatory work including departmental pre-briefings and finalising a Programme for Government.
This firm commitment is offered within an environment where no one, including the government, goes back on any of the advances and commitments made.
It is essential, in order to bring the overwhelming majority of unionists forward with us that all parties - ourselves included - use this short period to raise the level of confidence in the community and instil a positive attitude towards devolution and local control.
While this timetable may not dovetail with the arbitrary one set out by the government everyone will understand that throughout recent years many months have been set aside while republicans were allowed to prepare their support base and adjust to one set of circumstances or another. Unionists are entitled to the same breathing space.”
Fair Deal @ 12:06 PM
quote This firm commitment is offered within an environment where no one, including the government, goes back on any of the advances and commitments made
This does seem to get to the substance of the issue.
Ding Dong Ding
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 12:11 PMSeems to me to be a reasonable and constructive statement.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 12:18 PM“the DUP would support and participate fully in a Northern Ireland Executive if powers were devolved to it on an agreed date in May of this year.”
To be fair I find it hard to see how the DUP could wriggle themselves off this self made hook in May if the British Government and SF give them the six week delay.
It seems to be entirely a face saving exercise. Having made breaking the deadline a point of principle, the DUP want to be able to say they made the deal on their own terms.
On the Stormont menu tomorrow, a three course helping of fudge!
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 12:18 PM“never! never! never! never!”
has now become… “Er..well not for six weeks!”
Pathetic spinning from the DUP to look tough when in actual fact they have climbed to the summit of pushover Unionism.
Perhaps DUP voters should google the comments of Lord Carson in the debate in the House of Lords on the Government of Ireland Act to find the motivation of the DUP leadership.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 12:30 PMTo me, this statement is not a wrecker’s charter. It is all about the DUP positioning themselves as being in charge of the situation. Some salient parts:
The Party Officers having consulted widely, weighed up all the relevant matters and reviewed progress on outstanding matters recommend to the Party’s Central Executive Committee that the DUP would support and participate fully in a Northern Ireland Executive if powers were devolved to it on an agreed date in May of this year. Moreover, we are willing to bridge the short gap between now and then with preparatory work including departmental pre-briefings and finalising a Programme for Government.
So the DUP are saying that they are not going to twiddle their thumbs for six weeks; they’re going to get involved and do the preparatory work for getting the executive up. Moreover, they are giving a date upon which they say they will participate fully. To me this all sounds good.
This firm commitment is offered within an environment where no one, including the government, goes back on any of the advances and commitments made.
That figures, and I’m sure the other parties would expect no less themselves.
While this timetable may not dovetail with the arbitrary one set out by the government everyone will understand that throughout recent years many months have been set aside while republicans were allowed to prepare their support base and adjust to one set of circumstances or another. Unionists are entitled to the same breathing space.
Also, fair enough.
To me this statement represents considerable progress.
fair_deal, what do you make of all this yourself ?
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 12:30 PMi don’t think we could have asked for much more. as a UUP voter i was pretty dismayed to see the DUP gaining such strength, as I thought they would never make progress. Fair play to them, they have stood by their ‘guns’ in that they have waited for the Ra to disband, and now that the circumstances are right they are moving forward.
Fair play, Fair deal.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 12:41 PMAnyone know who voted against this motion?
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 01:07 PMLooks like a mistake by DUP after having played a stormer over last few months. Paisley has backed himself into a corner and is now reliant on Sinn Fein to help out of there - brilliant move by Hain. Uncomfortable for unionists as SF will be at their patronising best. But has Ian got another trick up his cassock? Enthralling stuff.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 01:08 PM“You have reached Connolly House. Your call is important to us. Please hold and one of our operators will be with you shortly”
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 01:16 PMHenry,
LOL. But if you are preparing them in advance you are giving them the wrong info. They need to ring Sevastopol St and they will get the following answer:
“Dia dhuit. Sinn FĂ©in. Seamus speaking”
The correct response for the DUP is:
“Dia is Muire dhuit, Seamus. Ian here. May I speak with Gerry. Go raibh maith agat”
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 01:29 PM“While this timetable may not dovetail with the arbitrary one set out by the government everyone will understand that throughout recent years many months have been set aside while republicans were allowed to prepare their support base and adjust to one set of circumstances or another. Unionists are entitled to the same breathing space.”
A NuDUP statement if I ever saw one. Acceptance that Sinn Fein is disengaging itself from the IRA, and tacitly accepting that they have to do the same.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 01:45 PMResolution
‘While this timetable may not dovetail with the arbitrary one set out by the government everyone will understand that throughout recent years many months have been set aside while republicans were allowed to prepare their support base and adjust to one set of circumstances or another. Unionists are entitled to the same breathing space.”’
Eh ? Unionists have had enough breathing space since the first ‘failed’ power sharing agreement to get used to the idea . Admittedly then (19740 it was power sharing with the hated SDLP that Unionists eschewed . Now it’s SF .
The fine line between slow learner and retard has become even finer :(
Nobody blames the DUP for being wary of SF or of this particular form of power sharing but their ‘excuse’ above is nonsense . Self created nonsense but still nonsense.
Hain has successfully lobbed the ‘time bomb’ back into the lap of the DUP. Horror of horrors the DUP now has to contact SF directly to get the latter’s permission for the DUP’s present state of unreadinness ?
The farce continues !
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 01:45 PMWe dither forward?
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 02:06 PMI was at a meeting in early January in which Peter Robinson said thar May would be the earliest for going into Assembly
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 02:09 PMIt’s going to be very hard for Sinn Fein to agree to a six-week wait designed to test their own good faith. I’m all for devolution but there does come a time when enough is enough. I’d tell them stick it at this stage.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 02:11 PMHenry,
If the DUP come cap in hand to ask SF’s permission for a short delay it would indicate eventual powersharing could come about on much more stable ground. I’d be inclined to see what they are offering in return for a very minor and short term fig leaf.
If they aren’t even offering to treat SF as human beings and willing to talk directly I think your get stuffed response should be given.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 02:29 PMI suppose the one characteristic required more than any other in NI politics is patience. Comrade Stalin has posted some reasonable points - and they may be credible. Personally, I have my doubts.
I also have concerns over the statement, “This firm commitment is offered within an environment where no one, including the government, goes back on any of the advances and commitments made.” On past performance, a lot of these ‘commitments’ will not be in the public domain. I note the statements doesn’t say ‘public commitments’.
I think we can be pretty sure the DUP are not referring to any government commitments given SF on the Irish Language, OTR’s etc. - but SF may choose to push in such directions. Instead, the DUP seem to be expecting something else in the following weeks. What is it?
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 02:44 PMSuperSoupy
You are probably right.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 02:52 PMDUP pass their ace - the veto - back to British Government. British Governement pass veto to SF an others. DUP now the only party - Unionist or Nationalist - with elected memebers against immediate power sharing. Time for Adams, Empey etc to milk situation but give the DOC a fig leaf say 3 or 4 weeks.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 03:33 PM…Everyone will understand that throughout recent years many months have been set aside while republicans were allowed to prepare their support base and adjust to one set of circumstances or another…
This was done by republicans to advance the peace process.
What the DUP want, is time to find more reasons to stall that process.
Enough is enough back to plan B and led the DUP carry the can for Irish ministers working the institutions in the north.Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 03:36 PMKokane,
Would SF not be happier with Deputy First Minister McGuinness and their three other ministers being installed the week before elections in the south?
6 weeks seems perfect and like the DUP just handed SF a media coup at the perfect time.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 03:38 PMLets not over-alalyze this.
The DUP just agreed to powershare by the end of May.
Therefore the major block has gone.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 03:40 PM“If the DUP come cap in hand to ask SF’s permission for a short delay it would indicate eventual powersharing could come about on much more stable ground. I’d be inclined to see what they are offering in return for a very minor and short term fig leaf.”
SF should only agree to the six-week delay if the DUP agree to uphold the May 2008 target date for the transfer of justice powers (which, remember, will go to the UUP or SDLP, not SF or DUP, so what’s the problem?).
A classic case of “You scratch our back, we’ll scratch yours”.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 03:45 PMSome DUP members clearly work on a Sunday.
DUP sources are claiming the 6 week delay was preagreed with the British government.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/story.asp?j=214359250&p=zy4359956&n=214360010
Statements from the Irish government and SF today indicate they aren’t in on any loop.
If true it would also mean Hain and Blair have spent the last while lying. Is that what the DUP are claiming?
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 03:59 PMTime for compromise by SF, UU - but if they agree 6 weeks it encourages problems to be located.
It will be intersting to see how “Big” Ian copes with a reduced fig leaf.
Posted by on Mar 25, 2007 @ 04:00 PM
