uuptoday.org

Ulster Unionist Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott today sought assurances that if the First and Deputy First Ministers could not agree on issues that Westminster could not impose them against our will.

Mr Elliott pointed to a recent example of a European Directive called the Gender Directive On Goods and Services, which met with concerns from the First Minister because it made reference to transgender and gender reassignment, and which was taken back by Westminster by officials for a final decision. The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said that this ‘taking back’ process if the First and Deputy First Ministers could not agree could have consequences for issues such as the Devolution of Policing and Justice and the Irish Language Act, which could be implemented against the will of the people of Northern Ireland.

In a statement Mr Elliott said,

“I am seeking assurances that sensitive and contentious issues such as the Devolution of Policing and Justice and the Irish Language Act can in no way be circumvented away from the Assembly and Executive and simply handed back to Westminster for a final decision.

I fully understand that many EU Directives are binding in legal terms but I want to ensure that this is not in some way a precedent or a ‘get out of jail free’ card option for the First Minister to by-pass responsibility for deals that may have been made. EU Directives are one thing but we cannot ever find ourselves in a position where important and contentious decisions are taken out of our hands and dictated to from Westminster. This would be an unwelcome return to a form of Direct Rule and would be corrosive to the devolved Institutions.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm and is filed under Top Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.