Irish 'threat' to Agreement

Joint declaration was published after assembly elections postponement

The Good Friday Agreement could soon collapse over Irish involvement in the internal affairs of the assembly, the former deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has said.

In a letter to The Times newspaper on Friday, John Taylor Lord Kilclooney warned that he will oppose any moves to nominate a representative from the Dublin government to a new body to supervise the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Nominees for an Independent Monitoring Commission on paramilitary activity are expected to be announced by the British and Irish Governments within the next few weeks.

Well-placed sources have suggested that the four-person shadow commission could be named shortly, with representatives drawn from Northern Ireland, Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and the United States.

However, unionists are opposed to any involvement by the Irish authorities in such a body.

Lord Kilclooney said that as most Ulster Unionists were likely to reject the proposal, the Belfast Agreement would come to an end.

Lord Kilclooney opposes any role for the Irish Government in the NI Assembly

Hopes that draft legislation to set up the monitoring commission would be introduced before Parliament rose on Thursday have not been realised.

This means that the autumn is the earliest time at which the legislation can be introduced, with a view to giving the commission full powers.

There is believed to be a degree of nervousness around the issue, given that unionists are arguing about its role.

But others say an effective replacement is needed for the existing sanctions system, and that this formula could prove more workable.

The Northern Ireland Office insists that the government is still working on the draft legislation, and that preparations are pressing ahead.

Speculation about a Northern Ireland nominee has centred on Jim McDonald, the independent assessor of military complaints.

Watchdog

However, it is understood that no approach has been made.

Another name mentioned in relation to the post is former Alliance leader Sir Oliver Napier.

The commission is expected to act as a watchdog on paramilitary activity and ensure there is no breach of the commitment to exclusively peaceful means.

The Independent Monitoring Commission formed part of a side deal between the two governments.

It arose out of discussions on the joint declaration earlier this year involving London and Dublin and the political parties.

Sanctions

The commission can make recommendations to the governments about sanctions, if it believes a party or an individual assembly member has been in breach of its obligations.

The commission stemmed from demands by the Ulster Unionist Party for effective sanctions against those who breach the Agreement.

Sinn Fein says a sanctions mechanism already exists within the Good Friday Agreement to deal with breaches, and insists the commission is itself a breach of the accord.

Published in May, the joint declaration outlined plans to reduce troop numbers to 5,000 as part of an attempt to move the Northern Ireland political process forward.

The joint declaration included five annexes dealing with security normalisation, policing and justice, human rights and equality, on-the-run paramilitaries and mechanisms to verify and monitor any deal.

The document was published after the prime minister postponed elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly which were due to take place on 29 May.

Northern Ireland's devolved administration was suspended last October amid allegations of IRA intelligence gathering in the Stormont government.

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The joint declaration between British and Irish Governments
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