The dissolution of the power-sharing government in the North over differences between unionists and nationalists would be ludicrous, the new leader of the Democratic Unionist Party said today.
Peter Robinson said he wanted to resolve all outstanding issues with Sinn Féin as the party considered pulling the plug on co-operation at the Assembly this Thursday.
An end to the IRA’s ruling army council and a solution to the impasse over academic selection of school children are among the tasks facing a united ministerial executive, the east Belfast MP added.
“I think the idea that people are going to bring the house down around themselves is so ludicrous, particularly when we have a leadership that wants to resolve outstanding issues, that wants to see progress being made,” he added.
“There is an awful lot that we have to do as an Assembly and Executive. There are things that will be good for all our people and we want to get down to the business of ensuring that we can make real progress.”
Sinn Féin is considering refusing to renominate Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness on Thursday when Mr Robinson is due to be made First Minister. This would trigger a crisis in the institution and could force fresh elections.
Mr Robinson said a solution to differences presented a win-win position for all parties in Northern Ireland but added that he could not see devolution of policing and justice in the near future.
The veteran politician, who spent almost three decades as deputy leader, said there should be talks on the current system of sharing power between the four main parties in Northern Ireland.
The DUP leader, standing beside new deputy Nigel Dodds, said: “There is much that we should be co-operating on, working together to advance the cause of unionism to ensure we can maximise the unionist vote, that we can maximise the return that we get.
“If in the future that does bring us so close together that we can have one organisation so be it.”
Former DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley handed over the position just after 11am today at Castlereagh Borough Council Offices in south Belfast.