Allister reveals role in RDS row
01 September 2008
First published: 29/08/08
Statement by Jim Allister MEP
I welcome the fact that action which I took concerning the politicising of the RDS Review by IRA/Sinn Fein Minister Murphy has resulted in action by the First Minister. I trust he will see it through.
I wrote to the Permanent Secretary of DRD on 1 August in these terms:-
Dear Mr Preiestly,
Re: Shaping our Future – RDS Review and Adjustments
I write to convey my disapproval of aspects of the above documents.
In particular I object to the import into these documents of republican speak for our country, Northern Ireland. The constant references to somewhere called “the North” is a calculated slight upon both the name and constitutional entity and integrity of Northern Ireland. It is wholly inappropriate that planning documents have become vehicles for promoting this republican agenda. Hence, it is offensive and wrong to so politicise a planning document that it has chapters headed “The Spatial Development Strategy for the North” and “the Rural Area of the North of Ireland”. Likewise the text is riddled with such inaccurate and political language. In similar vein the second city of Northern Ireland, Londonderry is constantly referred to as “Derry”, which is not its name.
I really think it is quite shameful that Minister Murphy has imposed his grubby republican speak on planning documents.”
I also raised issues about the disproportionate emphasis on spatial planning development links with the Republic of Ireland and the paucity of focus on vital east/west links.
At the same time I wrote to every Unionist member of the Executive asking how and why they permitted such to happen. Now, it seems Murphy hoodwinked his colleagues and surreptitiously inserted his republican propaganda. This demonstrates the bad faith with which republicans misuse their government office.
What is required now is
• immediate withdrawal and reissuing of the document in a non-political form;
• full explanation of how this political slight of hand was performed and the role therein of Civil Servants, who surely should have advised Murphy against this malevolent political action;
• firm disciplinary action against Murphy for apparent breach of the Ministerial Code;
• and a learning by Unionists of this further lesson in the unworkability of mandatory coalition and the untrustworthiness of Sinn Fein.
