Paramilitary amnesty legislation must now be binned - Alliance

9.19.42am GMT Fri 2nd Dec 2005

Alliance Party Leader David Ford has said that Sinn Féin's decision to oppose legislation allowing so-called 'on-the-runs' to return to Northern Ireland is the final nail in the coffin.

Mr Ford stated: "The Government has been claiming, albeit ludicrously, that this legislation is essential to the peace process, by which they meant it is an essential sop to Sinn Féin. However, now that even Sinn Féin is opposing it, even by the Government's own logic, the legislation clearly serves no purpose.

"Who is supposed to benefit from such legislation? The Northern Ireland parties are opposed to it, the Opposition is opposed to it, backbenchers are opposed to it, victims' groups are opposed to it. It is frankly a nonsense to continue with it.

"Let this be a lesson to the Government that sops to extremists are no way to achieve political stability. It is time for an inclusive talks process leading to a full package of measures that are right for the whole of Northern Ireland."

ENDS