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Robinson 'wanted' as DUP leader Foster commits to fixing Stormont
(41 minutes later)
Peter Robinson is an "outstanding leader of unionism" who the DUP wants to keep as its leader, acting first minister Arlene Foster has said. The DUP is committed to working with Sinn Fein to resolve problems facing Stormont, Northern Ireland's acting first minister has said.
Mr Robinson stepped down for six weeks to care for his wife Iris and clear his name amid claims over her finances. Arlene Foster is in charge while Peter Robinson steps aside for six weeks to care for his wife Iris and clear his name amid claims over her finances.
Mrs Foster said her time as head of the NI administration was temporary. Mrs Foster said Mr Robinson is an "outstanding leader of unionism".
Meanwhile, Gregory Campbell of the DUP restated the party view that there was not enough confidence in the community to devolve policing and justice powers. Sinn Fein and the DUP have argued for months over transfer of justice and policing powers from London to Belfast.
The devolution issue has caused a major rift between the DUP and Sinn Fein as Sinn Fein want the powers to be devolved immediately. Sinn Fein has warned that progress needs to be made quickly or the power-sharing government could collapse.
In Northern Ireland politics, when all options appear to lead to a dead end, there's always a secret passageway if you know where to look The BBC's Jim Fitzpatrick Devolution pushed further towards edgeIn Northern Ireland politics, when all options appear to lead to a dead end, there's always a secret passageway if you know where to look The BBC's Jim Fitzpatrick Devolution pushed further towards edge
However, on Tuesday Mr Campbell, the MP for East Londonderry, said: "The confidence in the community isn't there at the moment." The British and Irish governments see the transfer of policing and justice as the last piece of the devolution jigsaw.
"We have to work until it is and when it is and we can verify that, we then proceed - but not until then. It doesn't matter how many first ministers come and go, it doesn't matter how many scandals there are or aren't, that remains the issue." DUP MP Gregory Campbell said on Tuesday that the community still did not have enough confidence to devolve the powers to Stormont.
Sinn Fein have warned that progress needs to be made quickly on the devolution issue or the power sharing government could collapse. "We have to work until it is and when it is and we can verify that, we then proceed - but not until then," he said.
Outlining her temporary role, Mrs Foster said: "After six weeks either Peter comes back or there is a new election to the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister." "It doesn't matter how many first ministers come and go, it doesn't matter how many scandals there are or aren't, that remains the issue."
She said that anyone in the party who was supporting the leader in public but saying they believed his position was untenable in off-the-record conversations to the press should "have the courage of their convictions and come out". His comments came as Mrs Foster told Irish broadcaster RTE she was committed to working with Sinn Fein to resolve the outstanding issues.
"He is not stepping down, he is just stepping aside for a short period of time to deal with very understandable issues in relation to his wife and, indeed, the one political allegation that has been made against him," she said.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
On Monday night a BBC Panorama programme reported not all of the money received by Iris Robinson's young lover, Kirk McCambley, has been paid back to a property developer, Ken Campbell. A fresh round of talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein on the issue took place on Monday night, and more discussions are expected on Tuesday.
Mr Campbell's solicitor said the money had been an interest-free loan of £25,000 and that £5,000 had still to be repaid, adding, "our client expects to be fully repaid and Mr McCambley's debt cleared." Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin are also to meet, as the governments step up pressure on the parties to resolve the issue.
Mrs Robinson, the MP for Strangford, had obtained the £25,000 from Mr Campbell and a further £25,000 from another developer, the late Fred Fraser. She failed to register the transactions with the Westminster or Stormont authorities. Temporary
The Northern Ireland Assembly is to investigate the conduct of both Robinsons. Mr Robinson announced on Monday he was stepping aside for six weeks, and Mrs Foster has insisted her role is temporary.
The Committee on Standards and Privileges said an investigation would be conducted to see if any breaches of the assembly's code had occurred. "After six weeks either Peter comes back or there is a new election to the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister," she said.
Its chairman Declan O'Loan said: "It is clearly in the public interest that an official investigation is carried out in order to establish the full facts in relation to the issues raised in the BBC's recent Spotlight programme." Mrs Foster said that anyone in the party who was supporting the leader in public but saying they believed his position was untenable in off-the-record conversations to the press should "have the courage of their convictions and come out".
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had talked with Mrs Foster on Monday evening. "He is not stepping down, he is just stepping aside for a short period of time to deal with very understandable issues in relation to his wife and, indeed, the one political allegation that has been made against him," she said.
"I urge all politicians in Northern Ireland, whatever the turbulence of recent events, to remain focused on the business of government, and to recognise the crucial importance of intensifying engagement in those issues which remain to be solved," he said.
The Northern Ireland Assembly is to investigate the Robinsons' conductThe Northern Ireland Assembly is to investigate the Robinsons' conduct
Earlier, the DUP assembly team said it offered Mr Robinson its "wholehearted support". On Monday night, the BBC's Panorama reported that not all of the money received by Iris Robinson's young lover, Kirk McCambley, has been paid back to a property developer, Ken Campbell.
Other Northern Ireland political parties seemed less than convinced by the DUP's shuffling of its decks. Mr Campbell's solicitor said the money had been an interest-free loan of £25,000 and that £5,000 had still to be repaid, adding, "our client expects to be fully repaid and Mr McCambley's debt cleared."
The DUP's chief critic Jim Allister said he suspected Mr Robinson's stepping aside may still be a precursor to his departure as DUP leader, whilst the Ulster Unionists claimed the appointment of Arlene Foster only intensified the crisis in public confidence in devolution. Mrs Robinson, the MP for Strangford, had obtained the £25,000 from Mr Campbell and a further £25,000 from another developer, the late Fred Fraser.
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen welcomed Mr Robinson's decision to continue work on what he called the crucial issue of the devolution of justice and policing powers. She failed to register the transactions with the Westminster or Stormont authorities.
There was a fresh round of talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein on the issue on Monday night, and more discussions are expected on Tuesday. The Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee on Standards and Privileges is to investigate the conduct of both Robinsons to see if any breaches of the assembly's code had occurred.