Assembly Presiding Officer:  No-Confidence Motion

Part of the debate – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 12:15 pm on 1 February 1999.

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Photo of Mr Boyd Douglas Mr Boyd Douglas UUAP 12:15, 1 February 1999

Many Members tell us that they are democrats and must allow that I am entitled to speak.

Every paragraph in my speech contains a reference to the motion. What did the Ulster Unionists achieve by voting with Sinn Féin in an ambush against their fellow Ulster citizens? Our refusal to acquiesce in approving Sinn Féin’s entrance into government has caused a political impasse. Accepting armed terrorists in an Executive is morally wrong. Token gestures of Semtex and other explosives will not suffice. Not to debate the report in full was also morally wrong.

No amount of smart moves, shady dealings or strokes to stifle debate, with or without the help of the Initial Presiding Officer, can hide the emerging voting pattern involving Sinn Féin and the Ulster Unionist in a coalition. Why have a debate at all? I put to David Trimble the question that he posed to the Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, in September 1997: how can anyone justify bringing to the table of democracy those who have been responsible for murder and other iniquitous crimes for which they have not paid their debt to society? By their actions, David Trimble and his negotiating team have done exactly that. These people will not now be brought to justice. David Trimble has secured a virtual amnesty for IRA and INLA murderers and bombers.

In 1997 David Trimble told the people "We are here not to talk to Sinn Féin but to confront them and expose their Fascist character." However, on every occasion in 1998 and 1999 the Ulster Unionist Party has voted with Sinn Féin/IRA — its friends in the Assembly. Not even a fool would call that confrontational. Instead, the Ulster Unionist Party has bestowed on IRA/Sinn Féin a worldwide credibility usually reserved for statesmen. It regularly meets privately with Gerry Adams.