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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Peter Robinson denies claim of crisis at Stormont | Peter Robinson denies claim of crisis at Stormont |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson has denied a claim by Sinn Féin that there is a crisis in the power-sharing Executive at Stormont. | Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson has denied a claim by Sinn Féin that there is a crisis in the power-sharing Executive at Stormont. |
| Peter Robinson admitted there were difficulties to be resolved but said "everyone should cool their jets". | Peter Robinson admitted there were difficulties to be resolved but said "everyone should cool their jets". |
| He was speaking hours after Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said there was a political crisis and the DUP was allowing extremists to dictate its policies. | He was speaking hours after Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said there was a political crisis and the DUP was allowing extremists to dictate its policies. |
| Relations between the DUP and Sinn Féin have been deteriorating for months. | Relations between the DUP and Sinn Féin have been deteriorating for months. |
| The two biggest parties at Stormont have had public disagreements over the union flag dispute, loyalist violence, and Mr Robinson's decision to shelve plans for a new peace centre on the site of the former Maze prison. | The two biggest parties at Stormont have had public disagreements over the union flag dispute, loyalist violence, and Mr Robinson's decision to shelve plans for a new peace centre on the site of the former Maze prison. |
| 'Big problems' | 'Big problems' |
| They have also clashed over Sinn Féin's support for a republican parade through Castlederg last month, when two IRA bombers were honoured. Mr Kelly made a speech at the ceremony. | They have also clashed over Sinn Féin's support for a republican parade through Castlederg last month, when two IRA bombers were honoured. Mr Kelly made a speech at the ceremony. |
| Mr Robinson told a news conference on Wednesday: "I've been involved in a number of crises over the years and I have to say our present circumstances don't have that feel about them at all. | Mr Robinson told a news conference on Wednesday: "I've been involved in a number of crises over the years and I have to say our present circumstances don't have that feel about them at all. |
| "Of course there are big problems, and thus it has always been and we have to address those issues, it's important that we do. | "Of course there are big problems, and thus it has always been and we have to address those issues, it's important that we do. |
| "There are matters where Sinn Féin are disgruntled about issues, we (the DUP) are disgruntled about issues. What we've always done in the past is talk about those matters." | "There are matters where Sinn Féin are disgruntled about issues, we (the DUP) are disgruntled about issues. What we've always done in the past is talk about those matters." |
| Asked if the power-sharing institutions at Stormont were safe, the first minister said: "I don't get any sense at all in the conversations I've had that anybody has any intention or mind to bring down the institutions, that's just not the case". | Asked if the power-sharing institutions at Stormont were safe, the first minister said: "I don't get any sense at all in the conversations I've had that anybody has any intention or mind to bring down the institutions, that's just not the case". |
| He added: "I just think everybody should cool their jets at this stage and try and get on with the business of trying to resolve problems rather than create them." | He added: "I just think everybody should cool their jets at this stage and try and get on with the business of trying to resolve problems rather than create them." |
| Twitter row | Twitter row |
| Mr Robison added that he was concerned by suggestions that he was refusing to talk to Sinn Fein. | Mr Robison added that he was concerned by suggestions that he was refusing to talk to Sinn Fein. |
| The DUP leader said he met Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for discussions lasting 90 minutes earlier on Wednesday and would continue to hold such meetings in the future. | The DUP leader said he met Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for discussions lasting 90 minutes earlier on Wednesday and would continue to hold such meetings in the future. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Kelly has been criticised by other parties at Stormont for a message he posted on his Twitter account about the Maze prison escape. | Meanwhile, Mr Kelly has been criticised by other parties at Stormont for a message he posted on his Twitter account about the Maze prison escape. |
| The Sinn Féin MLA was one of 38 republican prisoners who broke out of the high-security County Antrim prison on 25 September 1983. | The Sinn Féin MLA was one of 38 republican prisoners who broke out of the high-security County Antrim prison on 25 September 1983. |
| During the breakout four prison officers were stabbed, including James Ferris, who died of a heart attack. | During the breakout four prison officers were stabbed, including James Ferris, who died of a heart attack. |
| 'Sickening' | 'Sickening' |
| Six other prison officer suffered gun shot wounds or stabbings in what was the biggest ever break-out from a UK prison. | Six other prison officer suffered gun shot wounds or stabbings in what was the biggest ever break-out from a UK prison. |
| On Wednesday, Mr Kelly tweeted: "Happy 30th anniversary of the Great Escape 1983 from Long Kesh H Blocks to all those involved." | On Wednesday, Mr Kelly tweeted: "Happy 30th anniversary of the Great Escape 1983 from Long Kesh H Blocks to all those involved." |
| Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said: "This comment made via Twitter is both shameful and sickening and a blatant attempt to glorify terrorist activities of the past. | Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson said: "This comment made via Twitter is both shameful and sickening and a blatant attempt to glorify terrorist activities of the past. |
| "I am appalled that an elected representative has sought to make light of a situation that would have caused pain to many." | "I am appalled that an elected representative has sought to make light of a situation that would have caused pain to many." |
| Ulster Unionist justice spokesperson, Tom Elliott MLA, said his party shared "the anger and the frustration of the many people who are outraged" at the tweet Mr Kelly posted. | Ulster Unionist justice spokesperson, Tom Elliott MLA, said his party shared "the anger and the frustration of the many people who are outraged" at the tweet Mr Kelly posted. |
| "However, we are committed to doing what is right for Northern Ireland and for future generations, and we will not be deterred or deflected in that task," the UUP MLA added. | "However, we are committed to doing what is right for Northern Ireland and for future generations, and we will not be deterred or deflected in that task," the UUP MLA added. |
| The DUP MLA Gregory Campbell described the Maze tweet as "disgraceful and grossly insensitive to the innocent victims of that terrorist act". |