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5 June 2008 Edition

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Outstanding St. Andrews issues need to be resolved - Adams

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams

AS An Phoblacht went to print on Wednesday evening, talks continued to resolve difficulties facing the North’s Executive. There has been mounting media speculation about Sinn Féin’s attitude to the nominating process for First and deputy First Ministers for the past week or so.
The departure of First Minister Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson’s accession to the leadership of the DUP has led to speculation of difficulties in the political process due to the attitude of the DUP to a range of outstanding issues from the St. Andrews Agreement, which have yet to be implemented.
In a statement on Monday Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said that there was a need to resolve the outstanding St. Andrews Agreement issues including the transfer of powers on policing and justice and an Irish Language Act.
“Eighteen months ago the two governments and all the political parties including the DUP accepted that the St. Andrews Agreement was the basis upon which the political institutions were put back in place.
“The St. Andrews Agreement set out a number of commitments and obligations which have to be honoured. These include the transfer of powers on policing and justice which was to be concluded by May and an Irish Language Act. These are key issues of democratic accountability and equality.
“Progress has been made over the course of the past 12 months in bedding down the political institutions. It is Sinn Féin’s intention that this work is built upon in the time ahead including progress on the outstanding issues. We continue to be involved in detailed discussions aimed at achieving this. That is our focus at this time”, Adams said.
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