SF criticises Government's handling of peace process

Sinn Féin Party chairman Mr Mitchell McLaughlin has strongly criticised the Government over its handling of the peace process…

Sinn Féin Party chairman Mr Mitchell McLaughlin has strongly criticised the Government over its handling of the peace process.

Speaking at the party's Ard Fheis in Dublin today, Mr McLaughlin accused the British government of acting outside the Belfast Agreement, by suspending political institutions and cancelling elections.

He said this was done with "the full connivance" of the Irish Government.

In his speech to delegates, Mr McLaughlin warned Republicans cannot implement their peace process obligations "in isolation" while unionists fail to use their influence on loyalist paramilitaries to disarm.

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The Foyle MLA said Sinn Féin had delivered "right to the last comma on every commitment that we have made" while the British and Irish Governments had failed to honour their pledges.

The Foyle MLA said: "Sinn Féin has never stepped outside of the Good Friday Agreement or campaigned on any issue that is not enshrined in the Agreement.

"The Agreement calls for all parties to use their influence to bring about the disarmament of all armed groups.

"Can anyone deny that Sinn Féin is the only party to address this issue in a positive and responsible manner?

Mr McLaughlin said Sinn Féin was fully committed to the faithful and complete implementation of the Agreement including its sections on weapons.

However he warned others in the process the patience of republicans was gradually being eroded.

Meanwhile the former Belfast Lord Mayor Mr Alex Maskey told delegates there remained "a huge gulf of distrust, misunderstanding and suspicion" between republicans and unionists.

He said Sinn Féin was trying to address that but he accepted that despite the peace process gestures made by republicans over the past 10 years "unionists remain sceptical about our sincerity".

The party's chief negotiator Mr Martin McGuinness said Sinn Féin is up to the task of getting rid of all armed groups in Northern Ireland as part of a collective effort.

Mr McGuinness said attacks on Sinn Féin were motivated by its electoral rise on both sides of the border.

Mr McGuinness said today on the fringes of the party conference: "I said yesterday to a very large group of trainee teachers at an eminent college here in Dublin I agreed absolutely with the central theme of what the Taoiseach is saying at this time.

"That is the restoration of stable institutions that are power sharing and all-Ireland and a continuation of the Good Friday Agreement.

"I also said that I agreed with his assertion that all violence must be brought to an end and I do agree with that absolutely."