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25/01/2006
Paisley raises concerns over IRA criminality
DUP leader Ian Paisley has expressed his fears for the future of the Northern Ireland economy because of last week's reports of IRA criminality.
This came after Mr Paisley's presentation of the DUP's 16-page proposal on devolution to the Prime Minister in London yesterday.
Mr Paisley said that his concerns were raised following the leaked information from a Policing Board meeting where Senior PSNI Detective, Sam Kincaid revealed that he has reason to believe that the organisation were still involved in organised crime.
He added that if the IMC report on IRA activity came back saying that the group were inactive, and then he could do nothing but disagree.
The 16-page blue print, entitled Facing Reality, has not been released to the public, however its contents will be released when the Prime Minister has given his response to the proposals.
It is understood that the paper proposes a two-stage process, which could see the Stormont assembly reinstated minus the power-sharing executive.
However, it is unlikely that any form of government will be established until Unionists are convinced that the Republican movement has ceased all paramilitary and criminal actions.
Sinn Fein economy spokesperson Mitchel McLaughlin, has accused Mr Paisley of talking "economic gibberish" and has said that the biggest threats to the Northern Ireland economy are partition and British Direct Rule.
He said: "Ian Paisley is talking nonsense. There is no evidence to support the political policing agenda and claims of vast IRA criminal empires.
"The sooner the DUP wake up to the current political and economic realities
the better. They need to work with Sinn Féin and others to build a long-term
sustainable future for everyone on the island of Ireland."
Mr McLaughlin added that getting caught up in the propaganda of those opposed to the peace process will only mean that the local economy will be placed under greater threat.
The Prime Minister is due to meet up with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern in Dublin tomorrow, to prepare for fresh talks in the wake of the publication of the Independent Monitoring Commission's report, which is due out on Monday.
(EF/SP)
This came after Mr Paisley's presentation of the DUP's 16-page proposal on devolution to the Prime Minister in London yesterday.
Mr Paisley said that his concerns were raised following the leaked information from a Policing Board meeting where Senior PSNI Detective, Sam Kincaid revealed that he has reason to believe that the organisation were still involved in organised crime.
He added that if the IMC report on IRA activity came back saying that the group were inactive, and then he could do nothing but disagree.
The 16-page blue print, entitled Facing Reality, has not been released to the public, however its contents will be released when the Prime Minister has given his response to the proposals.
It is understood that the paper proposes a two-stage process, which could see the Stormont assembly reinstated minus the power-sharing executive.
However, it is unlikely that any form of government will be established until Unionists are convinced that the Republican movement has ceased all paramilitary and criminal actions.
Sinn Fein economy spokesperson Mitchel McLaughlin, has accused Mr Paisley of talking "economic gibberish" and has said that the biggest threats to the Northern Ireland economy are partition and British Direct Rule.
He said: "Ian Paisley is talking nonsense. There is no evidence to support the political policing agenda and claims of vast IRA criminal empires.
"The sooner the DUP wake up to the current political and economic realities
the better. They need to work with Sinn Féin and others to build a long-term
sustainable future for everyone on the island of Ireland."
Mr McLaughlin added that getting caught up in the propaganda of those opposed to the peace process will only mean that the local economy will be placed under greater threat.
The Prime Minister is due to meet up with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern in Dublin tomorrow, to prepare for fresh talks in the wake of the publication of the Independent Monitoring Commission's report, which is due out on Monday.
(EF/SP)
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