UUP release plans to break political deadlock

The Ulster Unionist party have launched its plans for breaking the political deadlock.

A paper released today called 'A Legislative And Financial Model For Stormont’ highlights the party's proposals for the assembly to be allowed to exercise its legislative and financial powers as before.

However, they are willing to allow the Secretary of State and his Ministers to continue to administer the Departments until the parties move into a state of complete devolution.

Should this happen, the UUP have asked for a statutory role in the governing of Northern Ireland, including full legislative and financial powers without Peter Hain and his Ministers being directly involved.

The party have requested that Ministers will continue to be answerable to Parliament, but instead of seeking legislation and departmental budgets from Westminster, they would send their proposals to the Assembly.

Speaking about the proposals today, UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey said:

“The Ulster Unionist Party is not interested in the Assembly resuming as a talking shop, the favoured route of some parties.

However, we cannot under-estimate the damage republicans have done to the ability of the pro-Union community to tolerate an all-inclusive Executive. It is immense and deep seated. The current stream of concessions to republicans is re-enforcing this view.

"This fact has led us to consider what steps the Government could now take to break the deadlock, see the ending of suspension and provide the public and the taxpayer with a proper service and value for money for a time limited period that falls short of full-blown devolution."

He said that the full implementation of a devolved government could not take place until efforts are made to restore trust with Republicans.

Sir Reg added that the proposal aimed to put an end to the "drift that some parties are quite happy to facilitate," and will also give elected politicians a "degree of accountability."

He concluded that the UUP is keen to secure the maximum amount of attainable devolution, but will have to take a realistic approach in May 2007 as to what will be achievable.

(EF/SP)