Unionist warns peace deal not working

An Ulster Unionist warned the Commons today that the peace agreement was not

An Ulster Unionist warned the Commons today that the peace agreement was not

working and consent for the process in Northern Ireland had disappeared.

David Burnside (Antrim South) condemned the IRA's ceasefire as "a farce" and warned decommissioning had become "a joke".

He said Ulster Unionists had become disillusioned with the peace process as Sinn Féin used it to get more concessions for republicans.

READ MORE

In a wide-ranging debate ahead of the Whitsun parliamentary recess, Mr Burnside said: "I was one who with optimism and enthusiasm supported the agreement in 1998, which we hoped would take us into a better and brighter future.

"It has not worked and those who say it is working are deluding themselves."

The Provisional IRA's ceasefire had become a farce. "I don't know what a ceasefire means if it's not under threat when those on ceasefire have carried out murder in Northern Ireland."

The IRA, he said, had also carried out "major robberies" and other criminal activity.

"Decommissioning has become a joke. It is now used as a tactical ploy to the advantage of Sinn Féin/IRA - a little bit of token decommissioning and give us more concessions."

The people of Northern Ireland were also "disillusioned" by the "destruction of the Royal Ulster Constabulary".

Mr Burnside warned: "Consent for the present peace process has gone."

He added: "You cannot have credible institutions and a peaceful and prosperous future when the whole thing has been bastardised by the hypocrisy of the government.

"The process does not have the support of my constituents. It does not have the support of the vast majority of law abiding people of Northern Ireland and it cannot be fudged any longer."

PA