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Ian Paisley praises Sinn Fein over Northern Ireland power-sharing

Thursday, 19 November 2009

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The former Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley has praised Sinn Fein for keeping its word on power-sharing despite the dissident threat.

Mr Paisley said he was encouraged and hoped relations between First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness would "steady".

Mr McGuinness branded groups like the Continuity IRA traitors after they killed a policeman in Craigavon in March.

The two parties are still negotiating the handing over of policing powers from London to Stormont.

Mr Paisley told RTE: "What encourages me is the fact that, so far, the Sinn Feiners have kept their word and there's no doubt that there's a hatred coming to them from people that once were with them."

He said Mr McGuinness was very fair and he had a good relationship with him.

"I think there's no reason why that relationship should not steady itself with Peter in a minefield that is very explosive in Ulster politics and they need to work with great care," he added.

"I don't think that the majority of Roman Catholics and the majority of Protestants would go back to what we had. There's a great relief, people are beginning to get back to normality."

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24 Comments

I am very happy if not astounded, over the change of heart in the past years of Ian Paisley. I think he is now a model spokesman for cooperation between hardliner Unionists, Loyalist and Orange Order members with Sinn Fein as well as Social Democrats. Mr. Paisley's positive endorsements will go far to get Northern Ireland on the right track.

Posted by Jim Guinnessey | 20.11.09, 19:21 GMT

arron

you've just taken MC/Mickey/Mick#y/marksnemesis title for the most idiotic comment ever posted on these pages.....congratulations

Posted by mark | 19.11.09, 18:28 GMT

I think they're all just trying to save each others skin at this point. The people here haven't forgotten how these people were just a few years ago

Posted by Barry | 19.11.09, 15:21 GMT

Simon _ I wasn't suggesting any such thing. What I was, I thought explicitly, regretting was the pointless loss of life over the past 40 years hear. If Dr Paisley's lexicon had stretched to more than 'No' and 'Never' long before now, we might have reached a political compromise equitable to all sides without the situation degenerating into virtual war. That he recognises and acknowledges the position Sinn Fein now finds itself in – pushing the peace process forward while resisting dissident forces – is a measure of progress, and is surely to be welcomed by everyone. But that Sinn Fein still has cause to complain about intransigence among loyalist politicians a decade and more after the Good Friday Agreement is, just as surely, a shameful state of affairs.

Posted by Patrick Bishop | 19.11.09, 15:03 GMT

What do the people of Ulster really want is the question ! Ian Paisley has shown a true Christian approach to the conflict between Unionists and republicans! If you want to live together or kill or injure one and other embrace the TUV! I as a Christian what I would wish to see is politicians showing their concerns regarding the plight of all Ulster families who have to struggle through hard times trying to make ends meet! some folk who write in to BT columns utter about who can bang a drum the loudest! What a negative bunch of people! Get real! Life is for living! The truth shall set you free!

Posted by Mike Irvine | 19.11.09, 14:43 GMT

I could get used to welcoming Ian Paisley's comments, he's said some really positive things in the last few years that should be inspiration to all.

@ Simon, I don't think anyone is suggesting 'appeasement' or 'kid gloves' or that murder is excusable, either in the article or in the posts so far. If we're to settle down/grow up politically we need more respect, mutual understanding and a recognition that we're inter-dependant. Both sides need to help the other move forward essentially. That's where political stability will grow from, the advice of TUV etc is a counsel of despair that will turn the clock back, just as much as the recent dissident activities. In that respect elements of the DUP have much in common with dissidents, both would prefer we continue to butt-heads and perpetuate the same old nonsense. Ian Paisley seems to have developed his thinking beyond the purely dogmatic concepts put out by the current batch of extremists.

Posted by F | 19.11.09, 14:11 GMT

Mr Paisley and co whilst snuggling up to the likes of sinn fein on the other hand,love to continually show their contempt for gay people - Id say that the Conscience's of gay people are more clear than that of certain sinn fein members.

Go ahead and don't publish this messege belfast telegraph,you never print the truth anyway!

Posted by arron | 19.11.09, 13:23 GMT

ian knows his day of judgement is getting close........... its time to start hoping for an EXTREMELY sympathetic judge and jury...

Posted by seymour bunting | 19.11.09, 12:27 GMT

""Well said Ian its a pity it took you so long to utter these words.""

I think you'll find the reason that Paisley didn't do this years ago is because the IRA were killing people back then. In case you've forgotten that Sean.

Posted by --thenewmule-- | 19.11.09, 12:27 GMT

And thank you Mr Paisley for your contributions over the years both positive and negative ones.

Posted by Barry | 19.11.09, 12:27 GMT

If Ian can sit down with republicans then anyone can! As a Ulsterman I can honestly say that The TUV and their like dont belong in Ulster politics! They are the remains of the bad old days which they want to return to. The TUV are chancers who{ if!} were elected would sit with republicans as long as the money rolled into their bank accounts! Notice they never mention about helping people with their problems if elected? Flag wavers the lot of them!! Well said Ian!!!

Posted by Bill Turner | 19.11.09, 12:25 GMT

The mentality of the people in this country is the same on both sides of the fence.

Posted by Abdul Haffagee | 19.11.09, 12:03 GMT

Well done Ian, just shows how times have changed. Although, it would appear to not be the case from some of the comments below. As part of the next generation I, and the majority of my peers from both sides feel the general consensus that no one is interested in this bull any longer - what is it going to do for anyone apart from destroy lives? We should all focus on improving prosperity for EVERYONE in NI in order to increase quality of life here for ourselves.

Posted by a | 19.11.09, 11:50 GMT

Any chance of a comeback, Ian? Put some of the dissident unionists in the DUP in their place?

Posted by Ulysses32 | 19.11.09, 11:09 GMT

Both Ian Paisley and Patrick Bishop are implying that Sinn Fein have to be appeased and handled with kid gloves to stop stop republican dissidents from killing. There isn't, and never was an excuse for killing. Protest yes, but never ruining families lives. I don't like Jim Allister or especially the Orange Order but it's not him we are trying to move away from, it's killers. There is a huge difference.

Posted by Simon | 19.11.09, 11:07 GMT

Welcome though this statement is, it's a matter of considerable regret that Dr Paisley has taken so long to respond to Sinn Fein in the manner he is now exhibiting. How many lives might have been saved if the unionist default position for 30 years had been more diplomatic and constructive. Shame on the DUP for ousting him at a time when such conciliation creates the opportunity for progress, however slow and stuttering.

Posted by Patrick Bishop | 19.11.09, 10:35 GMT

Sean, what harm did the OO ever actually do on you?
To complain a perfectly legal organisation to murdering thugs just about covers your mindset i think.

Posted by John | 19.11.09, 10:34 GMT

Well said Big Ian. Peter should follow your lead and face down the naysayers in the DUP.

Posted by matt | 19.11.09, 10:13 GMT

Bert - It's people like you and Jim Allister that we're trying to move away from!!

Posted by Liam | 19.11.09, 09:59 GMT

unfortunately for us all, peter robinson has neither the status nor the intellect to follow the path mr paisley set the DUP on.

he doesn't have the confidence to allow progress so the DUP are once agin the main obstacle to peace here.

Its a sad day when we're wishing that paisley was still in politics!! But he would undoubtedly be doing a much better job that than his predecessor who remains too frightened of the no-men within his ranks

Posted by ger | 19.11.09, 09:16 GMT