The SDLP has stated there are no circumstances in which it would enter into a voluntary coalition with the DUP and the Ulster Unionist Party in the Northern Executive to the exclusion of Sinn Féin, even if the IRA were continuing paramilitary activity.
The SDLP yesterday called on the IRA and all such republican and loyalist groupings to cease paramilitary activity. But even if the IRA did not make such a commitment, the party would not do anything to exclude Sinn Féin from government in Northern Ireland, said former finance minister Dr Sean Farren.
The DUP in particular, but the UUP also, have regularly urged the SDLP to join an Executive without Sinn Féin.
Asked yesterday were there any circumstances in which the SDLP would enter such a coalition if the republican movement did not sign up to paragraph 13 of the Hillsborough joint declaration, Dr Farren bluntly said, "No." Paragraph 13 requires paramilitaries to cease activity such as "punishment" attacks, exiling, targeting, procuring weapons, and intelligence gathering.
"We want to see as a primary objective within the Good Friday agreement a fulfilment of the commitments with respect of paramilitarism," said Dr Farren, when publishing the SDLP's proposals on next month's review of the Belfast Agreement.
"Paramilitarism will destroy any attempt to reach a resolution unless we face up to it in all its aspects and forms, from whatever its source, and insist that paramilitarism is brought to an end," said Dr Farren.