Senior civil servants in Northern Ireland were criticised by the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, yesterday when he said a "turf war" between departments had slowed down the publication of a report completing arrangements for the political institutions to be set up under the Belfast Agreement. In an address to the chamber yesterday, he opened the Assembly debate on his joint report with the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, which outlines plans for a new system of government in Northern Ireland. Mr Trimble said there was a "reluctance" on the part of officials to "realise that things are changing" and that some were attempting to resist.
"I know that it is difficult for senior civil servants after 25 years of direct rule to accept that elected members are gaining authority and are making decisions. "I think the rearguard actions being fought by some departments against the changes we agreed upon on December 18th are most regrettable. "I hope that the departments responsible will accept the decisions that we as elected representatives have taken here in this chamber and implement them loyally," he added. Mr Trimble continued to apply pressure on Sinn Fein to deliver on IRA decommissioning before the devolution of power from Westminster can occur. "The stance of our party is we are going to do everything that we need to do, and we can do, with regard to that transfer. Of course, there are other things that should be done by other people."
Mr Trimble said that Sinn Fein and other paramilitary organisations should be under no illusions as to their obligations in the run-up to the devolution of power. He added that everything that needed to be said on the decommissioning issue had been said by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, on Sunday.
"And while the pill was being sugared slightly for some people during the course of the debate, don't let them think that they can evade the issue," said Mr Trimble.
He said that the determination vote due to take place today or tomorrow was a staging post on the route to devolution and "the next step in a series of steps".
"Essentially what we are doing today is reviewing progress so far, taking a formal determination and then the real question is how we manage in the run-up to March 10th to see that everything is done that should be done."
Speaking on the setting up of the Civic Forum and the British-Irish Council, Mr Trimble outlined how the key concept was "to encourage the creation of consortiums" in various sectors to nominate individuals for these bodies. He said the First and Deputy First Minister's Offices would adopt the role of "oversight" but did not want to take over the role of nominating all people for all seats on the bodies. Some members yesterday voiced their frustration at not receiving a copy of the report in time to table amendments. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said the First and Deputy First Ministers' report had been leaked before some members had received it. Two amendments have been tabled by the DUP.