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Kenny warns Durkan against FF
30.11.07
ANY moves by the SDLP
to amalgamate with Fianna Fáil would damage
relations with other parties in the Republic, Fine
Gael has warned.
At a meeting this week Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny
urged SDLP leader Mark Durkan against entering into
any formal relationship with Fianna Fáil. |
"We believe that the
restoration of the political institutions in May has
opened up the potential for lasting peace and
growing prosperity throughout the island of
Ireland," said Mr. Kenny.
“However, I would remind the members of the SDLP
that their party has enjoyed positive relations with
all parties in the Republic, giving the SDLP
unprecedented access down through the years to Irish
governments of all political persuasions. This has
also resulted |
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in cross-party
political support for the SDLP." Mr. Kenny said Fine
Gael had always had a "strong relationship" with the
SDLP.
"I would argue that, during the height of the
Northern troubles, it was Fine Gael's policy that
was closest to that of the SDLP. Former Fine Gael
Taoisigh Liam Cosgrave, Garret Fitzgerald and John
Bruton were insistent on the SDLP being centrally
involved in all efforts towards a peace settlement.
"
He accused the FF/PD coalition of "excluding and
sidelining" the SDLP from the negotiations on the
restoration of power sharing.
“Positive relations with the southern parties can be
a unique selling point for the SDLP in an era of
growing north-south economic and political
co-operation," added Mr. Kenny.
"However, the SDLP membership need to know that if
they decide to enter into an exclusive or formal
relationship with one party, then the SDLP's
relationships with the other parties in the south
will change very fundamentally. Such a move would, I
believe, be politically damaging to the SDLP in the
long term.” |
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