Assembly To Debate Haass Proposals

The Northern Ireland Assembly is to debate the proposals drawn up during the Haass talks, which took place before the New Year.

US peace envoy Dr Richard Haass was working with the five main political parties in the run up to Christmas to find new ways forward in dealing with parades, flags and Northern Ireland's past.

The talks followed a year of protests and parades, often culminating in violence and riotous behaviour, that was sparked by a decision by Belfast City Council on 3 December 2012 to restrict the flying of the union flag above City Hall.

So far, Sinn Féin is the only party to have recommended fully supporting the proposals drawn up as a result of the Haass talks.

The SDLP has said it broadly accepts the terms in the deal, while the DUP, UUP and Alliance continue to have issues.

Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle said: "We believe that the final package fell short of what this process was mandated to achieve. It also failed to meet the hopes and aspirations that the public invested in this process.

"All five parties have indicated that they will take part in a leaders meeting on Tuesday. It is important that this meeting is used to agree a way forward for implementation where agreement occurs and to develop a mechanism to close the gaps where differences exist. In particular, we believe that the proposals on the past should be urgently implemented as they present a basis from which to deliver improved access to justice, information and services for victims, and reconciliation for our society."

SDLP leader Dr. Alasdair McDonnell said: "The SDLP Assembly group have backed the decision of our talks delegates, Alex Attwood and Joe Byrne, to give a general endorsement to the Haass O’Sullivan proposals.

"The Past was the biggest test for this talks process. It is also the area where we have seen greatest progress. It remains the single biggest obligation on parties. Therefore it is now time to grasp the nettle, to take ownership and to move forward on the basis of these Haass O’Sullivan proposals.

"The next steps are the responsibility of both the five party leaders and the Irish and British Governments. Any attempts at re-negotiation will stall progress. Our purpose must be the implementation of the proposals."

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt described the Haass proposals as "not viable".

"We don’t think that the deal that was placed before the parties on New Year’s Eve is a viable deal and we therefore don’t see how we could possibly accept it," he said.

"There are questions regarding legislation at Westminster and Stormont and the largely un-discussed issue of who pays for the new structures. For example, I do not imagine many want to top slice the health budget, given the state of Accident and Emergency services Minister Poots is presiding over at present.

"We think there is room to agree on parades and protests, with two criteria needing further examination, along with more thought on the Code of Conduct. Nationalists gave nothing on the way we should give expression to the fact that the union flag is the only sovereign flag that reflects Northern Ireland's constitutional status as part of the United Kingdom. On the past, we remain concerned about both structures and language."

But Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has called for governments and parties on either side of the border to "unambiguously endorse the Haass proposals".

"Regrettably this week has seen the Ulster Unionist Party and the DUP decide not to support the proposals," he said.

"The difference between these two parties is purely tactical. The DUP said more work needs to be done to the proposals and called for an all-party working group to be established while the Ulster Unionist Party has rejected the Haass proposals as neither 'viable or acceptable'.

"Two slightly different ways of Ulster Saying No! With Peter Robinson taking a slightly more nuanced position than Michael Nesbitt.

"Irish Republicans have stretched ourselves in the negotiations and we are up for the challenge the Haass proposals contain. This is a time for political leaders to lead. Unionist leaders are failing their constituents and ignoring the clear desire by the vast majority of citizens who want to see agreement on these outstanding issues."

(IT/CD)