Murphy to press Secretary of State over ‘inaction on Haass’
Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy is in London for a series of meetings with MPs in Westminster, including with British Secretary of State Theresa Villiers and Labour Shadow Secretary of State Ivan Lewis, to continue to press the case for the implementation of the Haass’ proposals and for the British Government to positively engage with the peace process.
Speaking from London Murphy said, “It is now nearly two months since Richard Haass and Meghan O’Sullivan put their recommendations at the end of the talks.
“That period has seen a continued lack of leadership by political unionism, continuing to stall for time rather than back the compromise proposals. There has also been an abject failure on the part of the British government to live up to its responsibility as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement.
“The fact is this Tory/Lib Dem coalition government is failing to positively assist the peace process. By its continuing refusal to come out and back Haass’ proposals, and inaction over seeing their implementation, the British government is actively allowing unionist intransigence,” he insisted.
“Whilst disengaging on the peace process, the British government is, of course, very engaged in doing the wrong things, namely allowing important elements of the Good Friday Agreement to be blocked, such as a Bill of Rights, and an Irish Language Act, and attempting to unpick other key cornerstones, such as on policing and justice issues.
“I will be pressing Theresa Villiers on all of these issues. I will also meet the Labour Shadow Secretary of State, Ivan Lewis, during my trip, and similarly put the point that, for all of the parties, allowing progress to be blocked is not an option.
Murphy added, “Maintaining the current impasse is not a benign position, but one which will give succour to the destructive minority who oppose the peace process. The government and political parties in Britain must face up to their own responsibilities. Moving forward now on Haass is the right, crucial next step.”
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Posted by Newry Times News
on Feb 28 2014. Filed under Politics.
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