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Adams tells British to 'honour commitments'

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said that the British government must honour previous commitments.  Picture by Mal McCann
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said that the British government must honour previous commitments.  Picture by Mal McCann Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has said that the British government must honour previous commitments.  Picture by Mal McCann

GERRY Adams has called on the British government to honour commitments made during previous negotiations while providing Stormont with a "sustainable" budget for the future.

The Sinn Féin leader was speaking as the latest round of talks involving the two governments and the assembly's five largest parties entered their fourth week.

But Mr Adams said "real negotiations" had yet to take place and that the British government had "taken a step backward" in terms of addressing legacy issues.

The Louth TD's comments may be designed to temper any upbeat assessment of Martin McGuinness's speech last week, which a number of commentators have said indicated a softening in republicans' thinking.

In his speech to Sinn Féin activists, the deputy first minister warned that a return to direct rule from Westminster would amount to "unfettered Tory rule" and what he described as "an unrestrained onslaught on public services and the most vulnerable in our society".

All indications suggest little progress will be made over the coming days though negotiations are expected to intensify next week once the paramilitary monitoring report is published. The IMC-style assessment, which was prompted by the August 10 murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan (53), is expected to issued later this week.

The chief constable's assertion that members of the IRA were involved in the shooting prompted the Ulster Unionists to remove its minister from the executive. The DUP subsequently engaged in policy of resignation-renomination, which means only Arlene Foster remains in office permanently in the dual roles of finance minister and acting first minister.

Commenting on the forthcoming monitoring report, Mr Adams said that no sanction could be placed on any political party because to do so would undermine the rights of the electorate.

He accused the British government of not fulfilling its obligations and said that the executive required more funding.

The Sinn Féin president claimed proposed Westminster legislation to deal with the legacy of the past was a "step backward".

"Arguably the real negotiations haven't commenced yet because the British government have not come forward and indeed in terms of legacy issues have taken a step backward," he said.

"We continue to work with the other parties. Our focus as always is to isolate the problems and bring resolution to them."

He said there was an "understandable focus" on the forthcoming report into paramilitary activity.

Mr Adams said unionist leaders had to demonstrate they were "serious about power-sharing".

"I'd like to think we'll see a bit of sense in the up-coming period and we'll all collectively apply ourselves to do what people are very well paid to do in these institutions – that's to represent people and deliver for them," he said.

In a statement issued later, the Louth TD said both the British and Irish governments needed to change their position on the current talks and honour commitments made in previous agreements.

He also criticised unionists for what he dubbed "the continuing Lanigan's Ball approach" to the executive.

The SDLP's Alban Maginness said the talks were entering an intensive stage.

However, he warned that the British government's proposed legislation for dealing with the past "required radical surgery".

"We have been very blunt about the issues we have with the proposals so far and will continue to seek the most comprehensive outcome," he said.

"The parties and the two governments are working intensively toward resolution and that must continue over the days and weeks ahead."