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MAGINNESS - JUSTICE MINISTRY NATURAL SDLP TERRITORY SDLP Justice Spokesperson Alban Maginness MLA has today said that the SDLP will actively pursue their democratic entitlement to hold any future Policing and Justice portfolio in the devolved administration, and has challenged Sinn Fein and the DUP as to why they feel they need to perform an ‘Executive Gerrymander’ to prevent this. Mr Maginness stated: “It seems that the only thing that the DUP and Sinn Fein can agree on is that the SDLP should be denied a Ministry to which we are entitled under the rules. This is yet another example of how both these parties remain fixated on practicing the politics of the past, and as is becoming clear for all to see, they have not got the answers to the problems of today and tomorrow. It is clear that the DUP and Sinn Fein are attempting to play a game of Executive gerrymandering that will deny the SDLP a Ministry that would be rightfully ours. The DUPs influence over Sinn Fein continues to grow. So much so that Sinn Fein is now a willing, albeit junior partner, in initiating a policy of Executive exclusion against the SDLP. This says it all about the stagnant and impotent position of Sinn Fein. Happy to insult from the sidelines when the SDLP defended their right to inclusion, Sinn Fein are now desperate to exclude the SDLP at the first opportunity they get. The DUP have held up devolution of justice long enough. They should not now be allowed to exclude a nationalist party from taking any new ministerial portfolio which may arise and they definitely should not dictate that a future Justice Ministry should be gifted to the Alliance Party. If that is the outcome it will be proof positive about who is running the country and whose party interests are being advantaged. The devolution of Policing and Justice powers to the North is the final piece in the jigsaw of implementing the Good Friday Agreement. Bending and breaking that agreement to serve narrow party political interests is not a basis to ensure a stable and effective ministry. That is what the public want. It is what all political parties should be striving for. What have either the DUP or Sinn Fein got to fear from another SDLP Minister, or a SDLP Minister for Justice in particular? The answer is simply electoral. As the party which delivered the new beginning to policing, we are best qualified to take on the task of a devolved justice ministry. For the SDLP, this is natural territory. It is a sign
of reckless political thinking that Sinn Fein are trying to engineer
an Alliance Minister for Justice and Policing. Alliance should
not allow themselves to become complicit in this undemocratic
carve up. It is in the best interests of the Executive, of the
people and of democracy that the DUP and Sinn Fein step back from
the amateur dramatics. The British Government should now move
to quickly devolve these powers as already agreed.”
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