DUP Climb Down on North - South Forum for which there is "No Justification"
02 July 2012
Reacting to join First Minister McGuinness’s comments on the establishment of a North-South Forum TUV leader Jim Allister said:
“The North – South Parliamentary Forum was first proposed in the Belfast Agreement but not even David Trimble allowed it to get off the ground.
“In their 2004 policy document North South East West the DUP outlined their vision for the future of relations within and between the countries which make up the British Isles. In the document they proposed that a British Isles Parliamentary body be established, drawing elected representatives together not just on a North – South basis but on an East – West basis as well.
“At St Andrews the spectre of the Belfast Agreement’s North South Parliamentary Forum reared its ugly head once again but Peter Weir spelt out what most Unionists would have regarded as a fairly clear position on the new body on a statement which is still carried on the DUP website:
"The DUP opposes the creation of a North-South Parliamentary Forum. There can be no justification for the creation of a new additional institution with all the associated costs flowing from such a development. The DUP is working to reduce red-tape and bureaucracy, not add to it.
“Whilst some Parties may harbour a desire to see another body created with a costly secretariat for selfish political idealism, this is neither prudent nor responsible.
“The DUP does not oppose sensible cooperation with the Republic of Ireland however adequate channels exist to facilitate that cooperation."
“When the TUV highlighted the fact that the Hillsborough Agreement’s promise of action on outstanding matters from St Andrews meant that the issue of the Forum was back on the agenda Arleen Foster responded by claiming that it was “not even mentioned in the Agreement and is a matter in any event for the Assembly rather than any of the parties or the Executive”.
“Now McGuinness tells us that the Speaker of the Assembly, William Hay, and his counterpart in the Irish Parliament have reached agreement on the establishment of the North/South Form which will meet at Stormont and at Leinster House in Dublin.
“What now of the DUP’s opposition to a body for which they themselves claimed there was “no justification”?
“Another case of what Sinn Fein wants, Sinn Fein gets!”
