DUP fooling its people

Caitríona Ruane is pictured on the campaign trail with fellow South Down candidates Willie Clarke and Eamonn McConvey

Sinn Féin South Down Assembly candidate Caitríona Ruane says the DUP is fooling the voters by pledging not to talk to republicans until they "repent". She said: "In elections all parties and candidates are tempted to exaggerate what they can achieve when they promise the voters the earth, the moon and stars. It is a good thing that the public can usually spot and rubbish such outlandish claims.

"Of all the parties contesting the Assembly elections one and one alone is distinguished from all others by the consistency of its pantomime. That is: the red-beret-loving, top-of-the-hill, gun-licence waving, nay-saying, wolf-crying DUP, whose leader Ian Paisley recently claimed that God carried out a miracle at Hillsborough to stop the deal between Tony Blair, David Trimble and Gerry Adams.

"The simple explanation is that David Trimble took cold feet; reneged on the undertakings he gave to return to a power-sharing executive with Sinn Féin, whereas Gerry Adams kept his word.

"If Gerry Adams were to claim that God was carrying out miracles on Sinn Féin's behalf he would be laughed off the stage, strait-jacketed, driven away in an ambulance and lobotomised.

"Ian Paisley clearly believes that his message can appeal to a majority of unionists and that he can overtake the UUP. But his position is contradictory. On the one hand he promises the voters that he will not talk to Sinn Féin until republicans "repent", but on the other hand he says he will be going into negotiations after the election.

"With Sinn Féin expected to emerge as the leader of northern nationalism, the DUP will have to talk to Sinn Féin or lead its people into the desert of a lengthy political vacuum. That was the choice that Ulster Unionists had to make and it is the choice Ian Paisley faces, though he is hiding it from the unionist voters. Unless he is expecting another miracle."

• Caitríona Ruane is pictured on the campaign trail with fellow South Down candidates Willie Clarke and Eamonn McConvey

Kelly meets New York Comptroller

Gerry Kelly has welcomed the visit to Belfast and Derry this week of a delegation being led by New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who is here to take assessments from a range of political parties, government agencies responsible for investment, the Equality and Human Rights Commissions, NGOs and community sectors, regarding how equality and fairness is being progressed.

Speaking after his meeting with Hevesi in North Belfast, Kelly said:

"Obviously I am delighted to welcome Alan Hevesi and his delegation to North Belfast to discuss both the political situation and the growing disparities and inequalities that continue to affect communities despite the range of government policies supposedly focussed on tackling the gap between the rich and the poor.

"As some $15 billion of New York State and New York city pension fund money is invested in US companies here on the basis that they must comply with fair employment practices and the MacBride principles, Mr Hevesi evidently has a vested interest in establishing whether or not equality and fairness is being progressed in the workplace in general and society overall.

"Mr Hevesi recently expressed concerns that the approach of the Human Rights Commission could potentially undermine fair employment monitoring provisions. Sinn Féin has expressed similar concerns and has raised these with the Human Rights Commission and the Council of Europe experts who recently visited Belfast. It is our view that any interference with, refinement of or redefinition of these protections is unacceptable in a society where clearly disparity in the overall workforce still prevails.

"Existing employment protections should be strengthened, not diluted. We will explore this and a range of other matters with Mr Hevesi with a view to continuing this dialogue."

Sinn Féin had offered SDLP pro-Agreement pact

Responding to an appeal by Seamus Mallon for unionists to support his party, South Belfast Sinn Féin candidate Alex Maskey said that the comments were an acknowledgement by the SDLP that Sinn Féin has the support of the majority of nationalists in this election.

"Sinn Féin's position is to ask for votes for Sinn Féin candidates and beyond that for people to transfer to other pro-Agreement candidates in order of their own preference.

"A number weeks ago in advance of the election, Gerry Adams proposed a pro-Agreement transfer pact to Mark Durkan. The SDLP rejected this.

"The SDLP's appeal today for unionists to vote for them is not as alleged about protecting the Good Friday Agreement. It is about protecting the SDLP and is a further sign of a party in crisis.

"The SDLP position is an acknowledgement that Sinn Féin has the support of the majority of nationalists in this election."