RSF: DUP seeks return to Old Stormont

Statement by Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President, Republican Sinn Féin

The decision by the DUP and the Provos to put together again the Stormont Executive must be viewed against the background of the declaration of DUP leader, Peter Robinson, at the recent DUP annual conference that they seek an end to “mandatory coalition” or a power-sharing type executive in favour of majority rule once more.

Thus a return to the old Stormont of the 1960s is clearly on the DUP agenda which bodes ill for the nationalist community. There is no mention of an Irish Language Act, education reform or development of the Long Kesh prison site.

The threat by the British Government to hold an immediate Stormont election seems to have forced the hands of both parties. Nationalists will note that before Ian Paisley retired after a ceremonial year as First Minister, he declared that power sharing had been agreed for one term only. The old Stormont appears to be the real objective of the DUP as majority unionist party.