DUP AND SINN FEIN:GERRY ADAMS has told the DUP that policy issues dividing it and Sinn Féin must be addressed urgently regardless of the controversy surrounding the First Minister Peter Robinson and his wife.
The Irish and British governments should also stand by their responsibilities as guarantors of the political process, the Sinn Féin president said.
“The fact is we need to do business and that business has to start tomorrow [Monday],” he said.
“We have to start working our way through this and the two governments have a responsibility as guarantors of the agreements. It is my view that all of these matters will be sorted out in time and people have to have confidence in that.” He denied his party was laying down any form of ultimatum before the DUP which is dealing with the fallout from revelations that Strangford MP and Assembly member Iris Robinson failed to disclose financial arrangements she had with her teenage lover Kirk McCambley.
“We are making no threats in terms of any of this,” he said. “What we are saying is that when Peter Robinson was meeting Martin McGuinness [last week] it was ‘business as usual’ and that he [Mr Robinson] wants 2010 to be a better year for everyone, we presented ourselves to avail of that. We appreciate and are very sympathetic and I feel terribly sorry for his family.”
Addressing levels of public confidence in Stormont, he said: “The reason why there’s a lack of public confidence is because they think the institutions are not delivering and that is our fault. Sinn Féin is going to make sure that that is not the case.” Sinn Féin has tabled a motion in the Assembly this morning seeking a statement from the First Minister.
North Belfast Assembly member Caral Ní Chuilín said: “In recent days there has been a wave of publicity surrounding Peter Robinson and allegations regarding the financial affairs of his wife.
“At a time when there are significant outstanding issues to be resolved in the wider political process it is crucial the First Minister brings much needed clarity to this situation.” She warned: “The current status quo cannot continue. I am aware that the Deputy First Minister yesterday sought an urgent meeting with the First Minister and that this meeting did not happen. Mr Robinson has said he wants an opportunity to state his case.
“The motion I have proposed provides this. This is not about the Robinson’s private family matters. This is about serious political questions which are legitimate and require answers.”
A ruling on the Assembly motion is expected this morning by Speaker William Hay.
Mr Adams said: “The main thing is to try to bring a little calm into this situation. What’s important here is that all of these difficulties will pass.
“I’m not going to speculate about what will happen and how it will work out. But the job of ensuring that the political institutions deliver and the unfinished business of two agreements between two governments and all of the other parties will still need to be resolved. I’m making the point that they can be resolved and that Sinn Féin is here to be about that business.”