The absence of republican "poison" from the Northern Ireland Policing Board has allowed it to operate effectively, it was claimed today.
Board member Mr Sammy Wilson of the DUP raised the issue during a question today to the First Minister Mr David Trimble.
"Would he (Mr Trimble) agree that the absence of Sinn Fein from the police board has enabled discussions to go on without the poison which they normally inject into public bodies?" he asked.
Mr Trimble refused to comment on the criticism of Sinn Féin but said most people had been pleased with the level of agreement that has existed within the board.
Last week, it agreed a way forward for the Omagh bomb investigation following the bitter public row between Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Police Ombudsman Ms Nuala O'Loan.
The First Minister praised the contribution of Mr Wilson's party in reaching consensus.
On a separate issue, UUP’s Mr Derek Hussey said victims' groups in his constituency continued to be targeted by republican terrorists. He asked Mr Trimble to give an assurance that he would address the group’s concerns.
While Sinn Féin’s Mr Pat Doherty appealed to the First and Deputy First Minister to pay a visit to Castlederg in West Tyrone, one of the most isolated villages in his constituency.
He said a visit would help resolve the area’s "tense community relations problems".
Mr Trimble acknowledged that Castlederg had suffered a high number of terrorist murders. He said he hoped tensions would ease when all parties were committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means.
"That in the long run holds the best hope for the whole community," Mr Trimble said. PA