Governments deny dissident talks
The NI Secretary of State has denied claims by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness that the British and Irish governments are involved in secret talks with dissident republicans.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Owen Paterson has reiterated comments he made earlier in the week, in which he rejected suggestions that the UK government wanted to hold talks with dissidents.
Mr Paterson told UTV: "Co-operation at every level between the UK and Republic of Ireland is unprecedented and we're quite clear you cannot have meaningful talks with people who are not committed to peaceful means of pursuing their goals."
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin also insisted its officials were not involved in such negotiations and said: "We are not talking to dissident republicans."
"Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin has made clear in many public statements over recent months that these so-called dissidents should immediately stop any acts of terror or violence, that they cannot achieve anything through violence, and that they are acting against the expressed will of the people of Ireland who have overwhelmingly endorsed the Good Friday Agreement through referenda north and south," he added.
The statements came in response to comments Mr McGuinness made during a radio interview on Thursday, in which he said that talks "are happening".
"They may well deny that, that doesn't concern me in the least. I know it's happening," the deputy first minister told BBC Radio Ulster.
Mr McGuinness alleged discussions with British officials were held "as recently as the last few weeks".
He also claimed the Irish government "has also been speaking to these people over the course of recent years".
Mr McGuinness said: "I encourage dialogue, I think it is important.
"I know it's happening and that suggests to me that these groups are recognising that at some stage they are going to have to wake up and smell the roses in terms of their inability to destroy the peace process and bring down the institutions that have such overwhelming support among our people."
Last week north Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly confirmed he would lead a Sinn Féin delegation to hold face-to-face discussions with dissident representatives. The offer was later played down by the 32 County Sovereignty Movement.
Speaking after a "positive" meeting with PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott to discuss the ongoing dissident threat, DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said the party would not support top-level talks with dissidents.
"It would come as no surprise if it's happening because we have the precedent of it already having been an occurrence in the past", Mr Campbell told UTV.
"Obviously we can't stop any discussions that are taking place but we would not give it any credence and we would not give it any support. The way to confront terrorism by whomsoever is carrying out the terrorism is to make sure that they realise that they cannot ever win by bringing them before the courts and making them amenable before the law".
The DUP is now seeking a meeting with the Mr Paterson to request more money from Westminster to resource policing "for the weeks, months and years that lie ahead".
"I do think it's important that this is seen as a matter of national security and in that perspective it is a Westminster issue and colleagues and I will be raising the issue with our national government", DUP MLA Arlene Foster told UTV.
The claims by Martin McGuinness came amid an escalation in dissident attacks across Northern Ireland in recent weeks.
© UTV News