Allister warns against control of policing and justice by "the Stormont incompetents"
23 November 2009
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister QC
“Congratulations to the PSNI for a job well done in Garrison. I trust the matter will be carried through to successful convictions.
“The weekend attacks are a reminder of the extent to which the IRA threat is growing, making the Sinn Fein-placating decision to sacrifice the Police Reserve, more and more untenable.
“Not for the first time Sinn Fein politicians are riding on the back of republican violence to promote their political agenda, this time the ending of British control of policing and justice. It is transparent nonsense to suggest that control of policing and justice by the Stormont incompetents would in the least improve security. If education is anything to go by it would make it much worse.
“An aspect of the renewed growth in republican terrorism, which many want to ignore, is the fact that they are following the template so successfully crafted and pursued by their predecessors. When today’s active service units look at Stormont they can see how terrorism worked for Sinn Fein, delivering the prize of joint control of the territory they terrorised. So, no one should be surprised that today’s republican terrorists draw hope and inspiration from what has gone before in order to energise another push towards the political goal shared by all within the republican movement. Granting control over policing and justice to an Executive where IRA leaders hold the power of veto will only encourage, not abate, republican terrorism. Terrorism, which let it be remembered, is being aided, on the admission of the IMC, by
“On the important matter of the Police Reserve, it’s time for the DUP to come off the fence. Recent contradictory stances by Jeffrey Donaldson and Peter Robinson have been compounded this morning by the vacillating performance of Arlene Foster on the Nolan Show. Despite repeated probing she refused to state whether the retention of the Full-Time Reserve was a deal breaker for the DUP.
“It is clear that the DUP is deeply split on this issue. Some appear committed to the retention of the FTR while others are quite prepared to sacrifice them in order to keep Stormont on the rails.
“To keep talking about “sufficient community confidence” is, frankly, airy fairy nonsense; a mantra of avoidance. It means nothing. A straight yes or no to the question will you allow policing and justice devolution to proceed if the Full-Time Reserve goes is what is required. This is the question Mrs Foster uncomfortably dodged this morning. I fear that the DUP are preparing once again to go back on their word.”
