Sinn Féin has allowed the Democratic Unionists to undermine the interests of the nationalist community, the SDLP claimed today.
The party’s Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell, who is currently campaigning to become the SDLP leader, claimed republicans were playing second fiddle to the DUP in government.
Sinn Féin and the DUP are currently involved in talks with government on devolving policing and justice powers to the Stormont Assembly, though the unionist party has so far resisted pressure to agree a final deal.
Mr McDonnell said: “Sinn Féin is finding out the hard way just how much veto power they gave away to the DUP at the St Andrews talks.
“Desperate for a deal on the devolution of policing and justice, they let the DUP to dismantle part of the Good Friday [Belfast] Agreement.
“Good negotiators never put all their eggs in one basket. We warned Sinn Féin that if they gave the DUP a veto the DUP would use it.
“And they have, on education, on the Maze Stadium, on the Irish language.
“Progress on devolution is strictly on a DUP timetable and DUP terms; Peter Robinson vetoed a nationalist Justice Minister and Sinn Fein meekly complied.”
He added: “The DUP has linked devolution to an ever-lengthening wish list of goodies for their supporters; pay-offs for police part-timers, retention of the Police Reserve and over-ruling of the Chief Constable on personal protection weapons.
“And to add to Sinn Féin’s humiliation, they are pushing for a new regime on parades which might even allow Peter Robinson to dance down the Garvaghy Road.”
PA