DUP welfare cuts stand ‘smokescreen’ for anti-Agreement axis, says Martin McGuinness

THE DUP have “thrown up” the issue of welfare ‘reform’ as “a smokescreen to the real threat to the institutions that results from the anti-Agreement axis which emerged as a result of the failure of the DUP to show positive leadership”, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said.

“This anti-Agreement axis is opposed to inclusive, peaceful progress and the requirement for parity of esteem, mutual respect and reconciliation,” he said, speaking in a keynote address at the closing day on Friday of Sinn Féin’s National Strategy Conference in Termonfeckin, County Louth.

The DUP claim that the institutions are not fit for purpose, Martin McGuinness said.

“In reality, the DUP are not fit for purpose – just as unionists were not fit for purpose in 50 years of sectarian, one-party rule.

“The days of repression, inequality and discrimination are gone forever.”

The Sinn Féin figure noted that Peter Robinson and the DUP asserted that a new negotiation was needed.

“I agree,” Martin McGuinness said.

“Negotiations should be convened immediately by the two governments with the support and assistance of the US administration.

“The context must and will be the Good Friday Agreement which the Irish people democratically endorsed.

“In any negotiations, Sinn Féin will defend that agreement and the institutions that flowed from it.”

The Sinn Féin negotiator added that the reality is that political unionism and the DUP have repeatedly walked away from negotiations and from agreements already made, rejecting the Haass/O’Sullivan proposals “and then walking out of party leaders’ talks because the Orange Order did not get its way in north Belfast”.

All of this, he said, demonstrates a dubious and questionable commitment by unionist leaders to negotiations, agreement and to democratic decision-making.

“As I have said previously, we are in government with our unionist colleagues because we want to be; they are in government with us not because they want to be but because they have to be.

“Republicans have long recognised that negotiations and agreement required compromise in the best interests of all our people. Progress requires reconciliation and a willingness to respect our differing political perspectives and beliefs.”

Martin McGuinness said he has attempted to reach out to the unionist population, not least in his engagements with Queen Elizabeth, a factor acknowledged by many grassroots unionists, he said, but with little reciprocation from the leadership of unionism.

“Unionist leaders have singularly failed to reach out or to recognise and accept the validity of nationalist and republican perspectives, narratives and aspirations. Unionist politicians routinely excuse and defend racism, sectarianism and homophobia.

“Racism, sectarianism and homophobia are totally and wholly unacceptable.

“In stark contrast, I can say – without any fear of contradiction – that Sinn Féin has genuinely engaged in the process of reconciliation. And we have stood by and delivered on all agreements entered into, from Good Friday to the Hillsborough Agreement and the various Programmes for Government agreed by the Executive.

“Sinn Féin is up for negotiations. We are willing to work with all the parties and the two governments to address outstanding issues and to build a process of reconciliation based on mutual respect.

“I firmly believe that all the problems we face are surmountable; that, given the political will, they can be resolved.

“There is no going backwards. The way forward for all in our society is inclusion, equality and power-sharing.”