Empey challenges DUP to publish alternative proposals

Former Economy Minister Sir Reg Empey has challenged the DUP to publish their detailed proposals for ‘A Fair Deal’.

In a statement, the UUP councillor said that now the Joint Declaration had been published - and with an IRA statement imminent - the time was right to see what alternatives the DUP could offer.

Speaking today, Sir Reg said: “It’s time for the DUP to come clean with the people of Northern Ireland. In the last 30 years, and in particular the last five years, the DUP have been persistent in their sniping from the sidelines and consistent in their inability to come forward with alternatives. This cannot be allowed to continue.

“Following the publication of the Joint Declaration and with an IRA Statement imminent, isn’t it about time we saw the colour of the DUP’s money?

“What the Unionist people of Northern Ireland really want to hear from the DUP is less of the doom and gloom prophecies, less of the nonsense that they peddle, such as the banning of the 12th of July parades, less of their vague aspirational and frankly laughable ‘principles’ and more of what they can realistically offer as an alternative to the Agreement."

Sir Reg described DUP claims of an alternative to the Good Friday Agreement as "all smoke, no fire" and said that everyone involved in the current process would like to see "what miraculous deal the DUP can strike with nationalists and republicans".

"The challenge to the DUP is simple, show us what tangible, realistic and workable solutions you have got to put to the people of Northern Ireland and we can then get the debate underway," he concluded.

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