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Governments bid to prevent collapse of Stormont

By Noel McAdam
Monday, 11 January 2010

The British and Irish governments are embarking on a rescue mission to prevent Peter Robinson’s family scandal precipitating the collapse of the Assembly and Executive.

While Stormont will today hold its first session of the New Year, senior sources say the potential of the highly-charged impasse to send the institutions crashing down should not be underestimated.

But London and Dublin appear to believe that if the First Minister can maintain control of his party and begin to clear his name, along with progress on a date for the devolution of policing and justice, a full-blown crisis can be avoided.

DUP and Sinn Fein sources acknowledge, however, that devolution is facing its greatest threat since the power-sharing adminstration was restored more than two and a half years ago.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has asked to speak to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in the next few days to press home the depth of the problem, and has already briefed the Irish government.

Sinn Fein sources claim Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s team is beginning to accept that a deal for the handover of powers over the police, courts and prisons is increasingly unlikely.

The Assembly will today however attempt to display a clear ‘back to business’ message with Finance Minister Sammy Wilson — among those tipped as a possible successor to Mr Robinson — spelling out details of the latest quarterly spending monitoring round.

But it will be against a pessimistic backdrop, with some party sources even wondering if Mr Robinson will still be First Minister by Thursday.

Secretary of State Shaun Woodward has insisted the Stormont project must not be dismantled over a domestic tragedy and its wider ramifications, and that the political process is “bigger than any one man”.

“It is a responsibility on everyone in the Assembly to understand that the consequences of allowing the political process to slide would undoubtedly have an impact on the broader canvas,” he said.

Mr Woodward said the First Minister had to be allowed the opportunity to clear his name but the business of the Executive must go on, including talks on policing and justice.

DUP MLAs, councillors and party officers have been told not to speak to the press but, among those defying the warning, there is a sense of support slipping away from the party leader.

“Even if he clears his name, his credibility has been dented, and there is no guarantee that more information is not going to come out,” one source said.

On the other hand Mr Wilson, among very few prepared to be named, said: “As far as I am concerned (Peter) has got support, the stories about Iris don't impugn him.”

Free Presbyterian Minister the Rev David McIlveen, who, while a close associate of former DUP leader Ian Paisley, made clear he was speaking on his own behalf, said: “I do believe that his position is becoming increasingly untenable.

“He has a major problem with regard to solving his own family difficulties and I personally cannot take the view that a person's private life does not affect their public life.”

Outside his own support base Mr Robinson was also facing increasing pressure.

Former First Minister Lord Trimble said: “To have a situation where a party leader sees his wife expelled from the party and acquiesces in it, doesn't even persuade the party to give her a decent way out, shows there has been a complete loss of authority.”

Outgoing SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: “The public are not talking about the ministerial code of conduct. They are asking other questions about how something like this could happen and how is money like this solicited and provided as a gift.”

And Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister argued: “Seeking to pass off obtaining counsel’s opinion as such is misleading. Being economical with the truth has been tried by the DUP in the infamous deflection by Ian Paisley Junior that he “knew of” Seymour Sweeney. Now is a time for transparency and candour.”

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23 Comments

All that work to get Stormont running .. and now this. There should be an uproar from people that any suggestion of turning away from Stormont could be made. People need to work together.. and not panic .. They need to find credible and effective ways to resolve this.

Posted by Brad | 12.01.10, 00:21 GMT

When did Peter Robinson become so important? Are politicians that egocentric? Any one can do the job!

Posted by John | 11.01.10, 21:47 GMT

We had an estate agent as first minister now a lawyer as temping first minster mmm.. well Blair was a lawyer so it can only get better or..I wonder if Iris can get her old job back as a secretary

Posted by ron54 | 11.01.10, 20:15 GMT

The Irish Government has everything to do with it as one of the key players in the peace process, and also that many people from Northern Ireland have Irish passports including myself. (originally from South Armagh) Therefore because of the large number of Irish passport holders who identify themselves as Irish in Northern Ireland, we give the Irish Government that right.

Even though I come from South Armagh, I never ever had the time of the day for the filthy criminal IRA nor do I have any time for the criminal Republican dissidents. I now live between Mexico and Spain.

Posted by Patrick Murphy | 11.01.10, 18:50 GMT

LOL...William McCrea for First Minister. I would love to see that happen.

Just imagine the societal chaos and resultant collapse of the Assembly his appointment would undoubtably unleash, probably by proclaiming NI the Free Presbyterian State or something equally ludricous (most likely in song).

Could it really get any worse than McCrea or Wilson (other than Jim Allistair that is).

What a joke.

Posted by M S | 11.01.10, 18:49 GMT

@ Merry

The Irish are the landlord's just checking-in on their unruly tenants.

Posted by Blootered | 11.01.10, 17:44 GMT

Iris certainly isn't so "righteous" now, what must the free Ps think, how morally hollow her homophobic rants seem now? The 6 county political institutes are utterly dysfunctional, actually "embarrassing" is a more apt word under the circumstances.

Posted by Anton MacCionnaidh | 11.01.10, 17:37 GMT

I await with pleasure the Pamorama program and then we will see how quick the DUP will turn on Pete

Posted by ron54 | 11.01.10, 17:29 GMT

BT !!

Get off the blocks - Peter's up the road, off the field, down the swanee and up the Lagan in a bubble

Fix that headline for god and ulster's sake.

Posted by Blootered | 11.01.10, 17:14 GMT

Peter Robinson go with dignity now! You have "represented" east Belfast and Northern Ireland for over 30 years, you and youre wife are in youre 60s, give somebody else a chance, for the good name of Unionism. Youre speech today reminded me of crossroads, no not Prime Minister ONeills famous 1969 speech, but the Brummie soap opera of the 70s with its wooden delivery! As has been said by an earlier contributor, for implementing new Labours Ulster policy to the letter, you are assured a place in the House of Lords!

Posted by Mainland Unionist | 11.01.10, 16:45 GMT

How can this be a bigger crisis than the time they all stopped doing anything for about half a year not so long ago?

How can the resignation of one bloke bring down the assembly?

BT - stop spinning things.

Posted by Steve | 11.01.10, 16:00 GMT

What the hell has the Irish Govt got to do with it!!!

Hopefully nothing to do with Iris!!!!!

Posted by robin | 11.01.10, 15:21 GMT

So Arelne Foster is now taking on responsibility for the duties of first minister.
First of all Peter Robinson was not elected as leader, now he has passed on the top job to someone else we haven't elected. All this under the stewardship of Brown and Cowen, neither of whom were elected either!

Posted by Steven | 11.01.10, 15:15 GMT

So, you can turn a blind and stay in power just because there is no viable alternative. No wonder no-one bothers voting any more.

Posted by Steven | 11.01.10, 14:50 GMT

The Irish Government has a fairly big role in it Merry. As a partner with the UK government in the peace process. The UK gov wouldnt make a move in the North without consultation from the Irish gov.

They want peace for the North.

Posted by Éamonn | 11.01.10, 14:26 GMT