Executive Meetings in July and August

Oral Answers to Questions — First Minister and Deputy First Minister – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 24 June 2002.

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Photo of Dr Ian Adamson Dr Ian Adamson UUP 2:30, 24 June 2002

2. asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to outline the number of Executive meetings planned for the months of July and August 2002.

(AQO 1632/01)

Photo of Rt Hon David Trimble Rt Hon David Trimble First Minister of Northern Ireland, Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party

The next meeting of the Executive is scheduled to take place on 27 June. [Interruption].

It is likely that one meeting will be held in July, and there are no plans to hold Executive meetings during August.

Photo of Lord John Alderdice Lord John Alderdice Speaker

There was a jolly intervention there, but I call on Dr Adamson to make a more considered contribution than his Colleague did.

Photo of Dr Ian Adamson Dr Ian Adamson UUP

Will the First Minister tell us whether the Executive have discussed the recent disgraceful attack on a Roman Catholic recruit to the PSNI?

Photo of Rt Hon David Trimble Rt Hon David Trimble First Minister of Northern Ireland, Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party

There was no discussion in the Executive on that. However, I am sure that I speak for most, if not all, Members when I say that we completely abhor that attack and condemn those responsible.

I note that the police believe dissident Republicans to be responsible. It is unfortunate that there are so few representatives of Sinn Féin here at the moment. However, Mr Adams said some time ago that he thought that the Republican movement would treat Roman Catholic recruits to the new Police Service in the same way that it treated the RUC, and that in itself can be regarded as an incitement to attack. With regard to whoever was responsible for the assault which the Member refers to, until that statement is withdrawn or qualified by Mr Adams, he has some moral responsibility for any attack on any Catholic recruit to the Police Service.

Photo of Kieran McCarthy Kieran McCarthy Alliance

In view of the Prime Minister’s recent efforts to make the business of his Executive meetings public, will the First and Deputy First Ministers follow his lead and organise a press conference after Executive meetings to let people know what they are up to?

Photo of Rt Hon David Trimble Rt Hon David Trimble First Minister of Northern Ireland, Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party

The Prime Minister held a 75-minute press conference in Downing Street last week. However, he does not do that every week, and it does not happen after Cabinet meetings. In fact, it followed a recent controversy and the Government’s realising that it faced a little credibility problem. I am sure that the Deputy First Minister will agree that we are happy, at appropriate occasions and intervals, to have such press conferences. However, the occasional press conferences that we have had after Executive meetings have not excited much attention.

Photo of Conor Murphy Conor Murphy Sinn Féin

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Further to the First Minister’s previous answer, I was standing beside Gerry Adams when he made those remarks, and he said "in the current context", which is one of peaceful opposition to the RUC.

Given Mr Trimble’s seizing on remarks and how they can lead to a deterioration in the situation, has he considered the effect of his description of the Southern state, his remarks about the performance of his Executive Colleagues to his party conference and his one-sided intervention in the sectarian strife in east Belfast and other parts of Belfast? Does he consider any of those remarks helpful to the peace process and to our current difficulties with it?

Photo of Rt Hon David Trimble Rt Hon David Trimble First Minister of Northern Ireland, Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party

I find the Member’s initial comments disingenuous in the extreme. It is clear what Mr Adams said on that occasion. If Mr Adams does not support, and does not wish to be seen supporting, the violent attacks such as that which occurred in Ballymena, he should say so clearly, and the Member could do likewise. It would have been welcome if we had heard him say that he condemned the bomb attack on a Catholic recruit to the Police Service.

Why could he not say that when he was on his feet?