DUP MP for Lagan Valley, Jeffrey Donaldson has responded to the publication
of the Sinn Fein policy document pertaining to the Cohesion, Sharing and
Integration strategy. The DUP has taken the step of publishing for public
consumption the late October 2008 OFMDFM draft of the CSI Strategy to
demonstrate the key differences from Sinn Fein’s latest policy position,
unveiled by Martina Anderson. The October 2008 draft was the culmination
of over a years worth of discussion and development inside OFMDFM. This
document was due to go to the OFMDFM Committee on the 31st October
2008. Speaking today Jeffrey Donaldson MP
said:
“Sinn Fein needs to step up to the mark in playing their part in
building a shared future in Northern Ireland. If we are to tackle issues
like racism and sectarianism and work to remove the divisions in our society, we
need a shared strategy to achieve this. The peace walls will not come down
whilst Sinn Fein persist with a mistaken belief that a shared future is created
by imposing their template rather than a template based on a broad
consensus. That is not a basis for building the trust or confidence
necessary to end the divisions that scar the landscape in interface areas. As is
the case at all levels of government, the days of Sinn Fein getting their way by
stamping their feet and crying in the media are over. It’s time to build a
shared future in Northern Ireland. Is Sinn Fein up for
that?
The policy document which Sinn Fein has launched today has been
approved and cleared by nobody but Sinn Fein, whereas the document which I am
making available for public consumption has been formulated through intensive
discussions over a substantial period of time not only inside OFMDFM but also,
amongst the Community Relations Council, the Equality Commission and
representatives of the ethnic minority community. Sinn Fein is
really living up to their name here. Their document represents ‘themselves
alone’. The document I am publishing represents the views of a wide range of
people.
Sinn Fein needs to understand that behaviour of this kind will
not win them any plaudits. They clearly have little confidence in the strength
of their own arguments hence we see them running away from proper and frank
discussion around the Executive table, choosing instead to publish documents
like this.
The DUP sat down in good faith for a substantial period of time
to develop this strategy. Discussions around this issue were ended, not by the
DUP, but by Sinn Fein. Instead of finalising the details of this work in
October 2008 Sinn Fein decided to take 8 months out and produce their own
document, which has been published today. The document the DUP is publishing
shows how far discussions had gone before Sinn Fein decided to go off on their
solo-run.
Equality is not the foundation of good relations. It is one
part of a complex problem that requires a wide range of solutions and
actions."
Sinn Fein failing to deliver a shared future 
