'What signal does count centre argument send?' - Alliance blasts DUP

1.14.03pm GMT Tue 13th Feb 2007

North Down Alliance Candidate Stephen Farry

Alliance Party General Secretary and North Down Assembly Candidate, Stephen Farry, has slammed DUP requests for the Mid-Ulster Election Count to be moved out of Ballymena, where North Antrim is also being counted, by asking what signal does it send out for the prospect of the DUP and Sinn Fein working in partnership.

Dr Farry stated: "People are being asked to believe that that Ian Paisley and Martin Guinness are going to be sharing power together by the 26th March. What type of signal does it send out if the DUP are not even prepared to share a count centre in Ballymena with Sinn Fein? The election of Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness at one count centre could deliver some positive symbolism.

"But the current attitude between the two parties annointed by the Governments as the future lead partners in government is most depressing. The DUP and Sinn Fein are still not engaging directly with one another. They are fighting an election demonising each other, and we will soon hear the claim from Ian Paisley for all unionists to unite behind the DUP to stop Sinn Fein getting the First Minister Post, and from Gerry Adams for all nationalists to unite behind Sinn Fein to beat the DUP. Super-nationalist versus super-unionist. Yet within five weeks, these parties are expected to be running a government together.

"The political institutions are now set up to allow the DUP and Sinn Fein to both be in power without having to share power. Such a division of power is not in the interests of the common good of Northern Ireland. Only Alliance wants to see genuine, stable and sustainable power-sharing."

ENDS