Martin McGuinness moves motion on Hillsborough Agreement at Ard Fheis
Published: 5 March, 2010
Speaking in support of emergency motion 12. When we gathered here last year, I advised the Ard Fheis that despite the fact that the political institutions in the North were functioning, significant aspects of the Good Friday and Saint Andrews Agreements remained outstanding.
I was also concerned that a minority of Unionist politicians opposed to change were undermining the will of the majority who are up for power sharing and All-Ireland institutions which are designed to work on the basis of equality and partnership.
This was untenable and undermining the political institutions. Despite this the two governments and other parties tried to live in denial. That was an approach that we needed to challenge and change.
We did that; in very frank discussions we made it crystal clear that if the institutions did not work on the basis of partnership and equality, we would play no future part in them.
That is what led us into the recent negotiations at Hillsborough. This was a negotiation that happened because we made it happen.
The Good Friday Agreement and the Saint Andrews Agreement and people's rights and entitlements cannot be long-fingered for reasons of political expediency. Reaching and implementing agreements is the work of politics and government. Agreements cannot be set aside or cherry picked because of party political circumstances or leaderships change.
Throughout this process we have adopted a very straightforward approach to negotiations. When this party enters into agreements we stand by them. We step up to the mark and we lead from the front. That is the only basis upon which we can all collectively move forward.
Unlike previous negotiations the Agreement reached at Hillsborough was not an act of patronage by the British or Irish Governments. It was brokered and agreed between political parties in the north. It is a good deal for every citizen on this island.
It protects the progress of recent years and addresses outstanding issues from Saint Andrews including the transfer of policing, justice and parading powers from London to Ireland. It crucially maps out a future way of doing business on the basis of partnership and equality.
But is also represents a challenge - not just to us or the DUP - but to those who have spent recent years backbiting or in the case of the former leader of the SDLP, soundbiting from the sidelines. Those who for too long have tried to ride two horses.
Let me say to the UUP it is impossible to sit round the power-sharing table by day and court rejectionist transfers by night. Or indeed, as the SDLP have tried to do, sit round the Executive table in Stormont Castle and then pretend to be in the opposition benches in the Assembly.
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