Northern Ireland’s First Minister today pledged not to walk away from the troubled powersharing government no matter what the difficulties facing it.
Peter Robinson said his Democratic Unionist Party was committed to devolution for the long haul and said a return to Direct Rule from Westminster would be madness.
The powersharing cabinet at Stormont has failed to meet for over four months amid rows between the two main parties - Sinn Fein and the DUP - over a range of outstanding issues, among them a timetable for the devolution of policing powers.
But in his first DUP conference speech as party leader since succeeding Ian Paisley this summer, Mr Robinson said he was not for turning back.
“The form of Government we have entered is clearly not our first choice,” he told delegates at the Armagh City Hotel.
“But as a party we will honour all our obligations and deliver on all of our pledges. If devolution fails it will not be because unionists have failed to live up to any agreement that we reached.”
The East Belfast MP said Direct Rule could not be contemplated.
“Taking the route back to powerlessness and irrelevance - would be sheer madness: madness for unionism and madness for Northern Ireland.” he said.
After receiving a rapturous welcome from party faithful as he took the stage, Mr Robinson went on to hit out at hard line unionists who advocate pulling out of the powersharing administration.
“There are some who say we should turn back,” he said.
“They try to fool people into believing there is some better alternative. But they know the options they advocate are unachievable and could not, even for a fleeting moment, be attained.”
PA