The Government's representative on a ceasefire monitoring body inNorthern Ireland could be "sidelined" to appease unionists, it was claimedtoday. SDLP chairman Mr Alex Attwood was alarmed at reports thatDublin and London are considering forming a sub-committee to deal with Northern Irelandaffairs in a bid to allay Ulster Unionist concerns over the independentmonitoring group.
Under proposals outlined by the two Governments in May, British, Irish and USGovernment nominees would serve on the four-member commission which would takeaction if a party or paramilitary group failed to honour its commitments underthe Belfast Agreement.
If a party was found to be in breach of the Agreement, the body would reportto London and Dublin recommending appropriate action.
The British government would then consult a Belfast Agreementimplementation group drawn from the Northern Ireland parties which would decideif a censure motion would be put before a devolved Assembly.
If that did not attract cross community support, the Government would thenhave to resolve the issue.
The British and Irish Governments' proposal was condemned in May by Sinn Feinleaders but it also sparked a bitter feud within the Ulster Unionist Party, withLagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson claiming Dublin had been handed a role inNorthern Ireland's internal affairs.
In June Mr Donaldson and two colleagues at Westminister, Mr David Burnside andthe Rev Martin Smyth resigned the party whip in protest at the UUP's failure tocompletely reject the proposal.
A bid by Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble and his supporters to disciplinethe three MPs has also sparked moves to bring back the party's 900-member rulingcouncil early next month.
With the feud in the UUP escalating, it was claimed today that London andDublin were considering setting up a sub-committee on the monitoring group,featuring two British officials, to deal with internal affairs in NorthernIreland.
SDLP chairman Mr Alex Attwood said there could be no justification for sideliningthe Government's nominee.
"Unionist attempts to reduce Dublin's role are bizarre," the west Belfastcouncillor said.
"Do unionists believe that paramilitary activity ends at the border? Dounionists believe that the south has no role in monitoring overall paramilitaryactivity?
"Do unionists not recognise the fundamental role played by the lawenforcement agencies in the south in terms of ensuring the security of everyoneon the island?"
PA