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Alliance 'sells soul' for justice Alliance 'sells soul' for justice
(20 minutes later)
The Alliance Party has been accused of 'selling its soul' for the chance of securing the new justice ministry if there is a deal on devolution.The Alliance Party has been accused of 'selling its soul' for the chance of securing the new justice ministry if there is a deal on devolution.
The accusation was made by the UUP's Basil McCrea who also said that his party would have "extreme reservations" about an Alliance justice minister.The accusation was made by the UUP's Basil McCrea who also said that his party would have "extreme reservations" about an Alliance justice minister.
Mr McCrea said that any new minister should be appointed through the democratically agreed d'Hont system.Mr McCrea said that any new minister should be appointed through the democratically agreed d'Hont system.
Naomi Long from Alliance said Mr McCrea's argument was inconsistent.Naomi Long from Alliance said Mr McCrea's argument was inconsistent.
Mr McCrea made his remarks a day after Alliance proposed a motion noting "the large number of critical issues that the Executive has failed to resolve" and expressing "deep concern about the consequences for good governance".Mr McCrea made his remarks a day after Alliance proposed a motion noting "the large number of critical issues that the Executive has failed to resolve" and expressing "deep concern about the consequences for good governance".
'Completely confused''Completely confused'
He claimed that after debating the issue for over an hour, Alliance then attempted to withdrawn their own motion and said that he forced a vote on the issue. He claimed that after debating the issue for over an hour, Alliance then attempted to withdrawn their own motion and even voted against it when he forced a vote on the issue.
"The message coming from the [Alliance] party is completely confused. On one hand they criticise the Executive for what it has described as failures, on the other hand they are scrambling for a position as justice minister, he said."The message coming from the [Alliance] party is completely confused. On one hand they criticise the Executive for what it has described as failures, on the other hand they are scrambling for a position as justice minister, he said.
The UUP MLA said Alliance did not want to "upset" either Sinn Fein or the DUP in case it weaken their chances of securing the ministry. Naomi Long said Alliance did not want to embarrass other parties
But Ms Long, Alliance deputy leader, said Mr McCrea's argument was riddled with inconsistencies and was a "cynical exploitation" of the problems in the Executive. The UUP MLA said Alliance did not want to "upset" either Sinn Fein or the DUP in case it weakened their chances of securing the ministry.
But Ms Long, Alliance deputy leader, said Mr McCrea's argument was "riddled with inconsistencies" and was a "cynical exploitation of the current difficulties in the Executive for short-term party political gain".
Unnecessary vote
Referring to her party's vote against its own motion, Ms Long said given that the tone of Monday's debate had been largely constructive - "with the exception of the Ulster Unionist Party" - Alliance members felt that it was not necessary to push it to a vote.
She said the Alliance motion was initially proposed to "allow people, particularly parties such as ourselves who don't have the opportunity to sit around the Executive table and make our views known, to raise issues about the stability of the Executive and lack of public confidence".
She added that voting for their motion would "embarrass parties who are in the Executive" - including Mr McCrea's UUP.
Intensive talks on the devolution of policing and justice are set to continue on Tuesday.Intensive talks on the devolution of policing and justice are set to continue on Tuesday.
If there is a deal, any new justice minister will have to be elected by a cross-community vote in the Assembly, meaning that the post is likely to go to a member of the cross-community Alliance party.If there is a deal, any new justice minister will have to be elected by a cross-community vote in the Assembly, meaning that the post is likely to go to a member of the cross-community Alliance party.