TUV Launch Response to Hillsborough
12 February 2010
Speaking at a press conference to launch his party’s response to the Hillsborough Agreement TUV leader Jim Allister said:
“Republicans have long demanded to transfer of policing and justice to the terrorist-inclusive executive in which they sit. In their 2005 manifesto they stated:
“Our strategy is for a new all-Ireland policing and justice system. That cannot be achieved without the transfer of policing and justice powers away from London, into an Executive and Assembly and the all-Ireland institutions.”
“Shame on those Unionists who have rolled over on this key concession to Republicans!
“Devolution of policing and justice is a key “staging post” for Republicans. And within the Hillsborough Agreement the next posts are clear.
“Sinn Fein/IRA have secured a working party to examine the outstanding issues from St Andrews. These include:
i) the promotion of the Irish Language,
ii) the examining of the case for “additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the North South Ministerial Council”;
iii) progress on the establishment of a North-South parliamentary forum;
iv) progress on the establishment of a North-South civic forum. and
v) progress towards a Single Equality Bill – a longstanding Sinn Fein demand.
“This added to the fact that Sinn Fein/IRA got an early date for the devolution of policing and justice and ensured that the Minister will be inside the Executive - thus subject to the Republican veto - makes it a crushing 7 – 1 victory for Republicans.
“And what is the DUP’s gain? A review of a review of the Parades Commission! It is already clear from the utterances of Sinn Fein/IRA that the Republicans have no intension of allowing any change on parading policy. If it looks like a Parades Commission, talks like a Parades Commission and walks like a Parades Commission it is a Parades Commission!
“TUV will be taking our message to the country and distributing thousands of information leaflets on the Hillsborough deal. We have no intention of letting the pro-deal parties a free run on this issue”.
The document is online here.
