New First Minister upsets nationalists with ‘rogue’ remark
THE North’s f altering power-sharing government named an Acting First Minister yesterday – and she immediately raised the hackles of nationalists.
The DUP’s Arlene Foster took the reins as the sole unionist in the Executive, staying that she stayed on in order to deter actions by what she called ‘rogue’ republican and nationalist ministers.
Ms Foster told BBC’s The View: ‘I have been placed there as a gatekeeper to make sure that Sinn Féin and the SDLP ministers don’t take actions that will damage the North and principally, let’s be honest, that damage the unionist community.’
She was named Acting First Minister after the mass resignation of her party colleagues amid a crisis sparked by a murder linked to members of the IRA.
DUP leader Peter Robinson stepped aside as First Minister over unionist concerns about paramilitarism and has asked Ms Foster, his finance minister, to remain in the Executive to prevent nationalists from taking over key ministerial posts.
But her remarks drew criticism from Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly, who described them as ‘bigoted’ and a ‘throwback’ to the past. He told the broadcast- er: ‘To make this attack on nationalism – because it wasn’t just republicanism, but on nationalism – and call ministers “rogue ministers” is a complete nonsense.’
The unionist walkout from the mandatory coalition came after the DUP failed to get the Assembly adjourned for a period to allow crisis talks to address the implications of the murder of IRA man Kevin McGuigan.
The political furore over the killing intensified on Wednesday when three senior republicans were arrested in connection with the murder. The trio and a woman have been released unconditionally, police said.
As he announced the resignations, Mr Robinson repeated a demand for the government to suspend the institutions outright to enable space for the talks to happen.
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers last night rejected the call.
The fallout from the murder of Mr McGuigan has already seen the Ulster Unionists resign their one ministerial post.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said on the ongoing crisis: ‘The people of Northern Ireland are entitled to have the expression of their vote translated into normal politics where the issues of development of Northern Ireland, their lives, their careers and opportunities are managed competently by responsible politicians.
‘When people put their names on ballot papers and are elected to office they have assumed a responsibility and that responsibility was voted for by the people. Devolution of authority and the running of normal politics in Northern Ireland, that’s what you have to get back to.
‘And there is no point in being blocked off by the politics of the past.
‘The young generation have to pass that out and it is the responsibility of the current wave of politicians to deal realistically and practically despite the difficulties they might have interparty or personally and look at the bigger picture.’
Political crisis talks in Northern Ireland are due to start again on Monday.
Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan added: ‘The situation in Northern Ireland remains very fragile.
‘I believe over the next few days, over the weekend in particular, all party leaders and their parliamentary parties need to reflect seriously upon the consequences of the last few days and what it means for peace and stability of Northern Ireland.’
‘The situation remains fragile’