Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

McGuinness slaps down Trimble

Sinn Féin Mid Ulster MP Martin McGuinness MLA has said that any attempt by David Trimble to interfere with the ministerial work of either Sinn Féin minister is unacceptable.

"David Trimble's comments about the South were disgraceful. His remarks about the Sinn Féin ministers were equally outrageous," said McGuinness.

"It is time for David Trimble to start displaying the positive leadership that is required from his role as First Minister and time he stopped indulging himself in counter productive and negative politics. David Trimble needs to recognise that we have a peace process and that we should be building on that.

"Any attempt by David Trimble to interfere with our ministerial work is unacceptable. He has previously attempted to block our work and participation in the North/South Ministerial Council - He was found to have acted unlawfully in doing so.

"David Trimble should not by trying to out Paisley Paisley. Positive leadership is required."

Speaking to his party's AGM on 9 March, David Trimble said the following

"The Burns Report on education is not the solution. But we cannot turn a blind eye to weakness in the non-grammar sector. The task is to preserve what is best in our schools while improving and widening opportunity and choice. We are working on a serious alternative. We will place it before the electorate and seek their mandate.

"One thing you can be sure of. The failed comprehensive experiment is not for us. Bog standard comprehensives are not acceptable in England, and they are certainly not acceptable to us. Good schools, including the grammar schools will not be sacrificed to out of date ideas or mere prejudice.

"But while in Education they are trying to fix something that isn't broken, in Health nothing is done to fix something that is broken. The Executive has given her more money than ever - an extra £600 million since devolution. But are things any better? No. It's time for some serious decisions - not just on a hospital here or there - there are structural issues to be tackled."