29/01/2012 Sunday Politics Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland this week: Best seats in the house for Peter

Robinson at his first GAA match. It's the right time, the First

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2018 seconds

Minister says, as he watches the Hello and welcome to the programme,

and it's a tale of two unionist parties: the DUP leader Peter

Robinson wins praise for attending his first GAA match, while Tom

Elliott reveals disunity among the Ulster Unionists over, of all

things, unionist unity. With me is MLA Basil McCrea.

Thank you for joining us. What did you know about these talks

involving Dave Wallwork Nouri? Frankly, not very much, I did not

know they were going on at all. That's not to say it is in the

right thing to be doing. It's a mixed message that is being sent

out. On the one hand on Friday the party leader issued a statement

saying that talks were normal and part of normal political life, and

yet he sacked David from the education committee. Well, there

are a number of different things working in that scenario. First of

all, Tom Elliott has explained his interaction with different

political leaders and has kept us all up to date on that. I think it

is proper of the political leaders should be talking about things. The

issue of discipline and what happened with David, that's an

internal matter. I don't know the details or what exactly what went

on, but the leader does have the right to impose discipline if he

thinks it appropriate. But it's a very public discipline, at losing a

very public position. Well, I can only say the internal discussion

was just that - internal. But what is the message that sends out, both

to party members and also due supporters? Nobody really wants to

take discipline. Everybody should be self-disciplined and working

together as a way of putting forward a good message to the

public. If you get to a situation, and I don't actually know what the

details are and and certainly not prepared to speculate on them, but

if you get to the situation where the leader feels it is necessary to

take certain actions, then other party leaders have done similar

things. Margaret did with the SDLP as well. I support the leader in

taking that action. Are you opposed to the meetings that David held?

I've already said, I don't know what the details were. Well, we

don't know the details but we know they have taken place, both parties

have confirmed that. I don't know what the substance was or why they

were taking place. I've made it clear in my public statements in my

leadership campaign and beyond that I do not think there is merit in

having a single Unionist Party. I am absolutely opposed to any such

link-up, I think it would be a detriment to the people of Northern

Ireland and to politics. But I'm not sure that that is what was

being discussed. There may have been reasonable reasons for having

discussions on specific issues, and the party has said that on specific

issues it is quite happy to engage with any and every party. So the

talks about closer co-operation, do you think they will continue, or

are they over? There is a time and place for people to be informed

about issues, and we are very genuinely a democratic party. Any

genuine democratic decisions that need to be taken will go through

the proper channels, through the Executive, through the party

offices. Those discussions will take place and they will be in

private. But is the fact there is perhaps a lack of party discipline

a problem? People were going on radio programmes and speaking out

of turn. People like me on your show?! The issue is, the party is

keen to solve problems internally, but we do need to debate. I've been

to two meetings last week where we had brilliant discussions, people

really looking at the issues and seeing how we can go forward. Most

people I have spoken to are adamant we should remain independent.

Surely Tom Elliott's leadership is in doubt now? I would say the

leader has to be in support of all ml a East and the party. -- MLAs. I

have been hearing a rumblings in that regard. It is crucial in any

political party that the leader retains the confidence of the party,

and I think he does. But surely this has been a huge mistake, the

way it has panned out in the press. There is no doubt it has been

difficult. Nobody likes things to come out in the press but you do

have to deal with these issues. The mark of good leadership is not that

there are problems, but there you deal with the problems. Tom is

dealing with the issues and we will see what he has to say-was. On that

basis, the party will decide how best to go forward. -- has to say

to us. All the atmosphere be like tomorrow? Well, the good thing

about the party is it is able to talk about issues. What do we have

to clarify, how can we explain to people what is going on? It is part

of the price of democracy that you cannot do everything without some

form of criticism. That positive criticism is a good thing and I'm

quite sure there will be a lot of support for the leader and for the

way forward. Thank you very much indeed for joining us.

It's been hailed as another little piece of history. Last night the

First Minister attended a GAA match for the first time. The DUP leader

was a guest of the Ulster Council for the final of the McKenna Cup

final between Derry and Tyrone. Peter Robinson took his seat just

after the throw in. Four years ago, his colleague Edwin Poots became

the first DUP politician to attend a GAA game in an official capacity

when he also went to a McKenna Cup game.

Speaking after the match, the DUP leader told Mark Sidebottom why

he'd made the move. I think if it's left to some people, there is never

a right time to do anything. I think the GAA are moving forward

and being responsible, and I think it is the right thing to do. We

have to move away from beat them and as attitude and show respect

for each other's way of life. -- the them and us attitude. I believe

people on both sides of the community want to see as reaching

across to each other. There will always be people not happy with

that too well at lag behind. But I think we are moving forward.

match itself, what did you make of it? Go, the first sport I have

watched where I thought I would be safer at Stormont!

With me now is the DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds. Was he right to

go to the much? Of course, he has shown great leadership as leader of

the D P. -- the DUP. I think it's a very positive mood -- move indeed.

How significant is it in the wider political sense? It is part of

Northern Ireland moving forward. It does not in any way compromise

Peter Robinson's principles or the principles of the party, but it

says a strong signal to people that we are moving forward in Northern

Ireland, moving forward together as much as possible. Of course there

are political differences, it doesn't change the fact that week

in the DUP want is the United Kingdom with Ireland. But we much -

- we must move forward for the good of the people, jobs, the health

service and all the rest of it. a unity in the DUP about him

attending? Absolutely, no doubt about that. To broaden our appeal

and are based and increase our membership and vote, we have

brought people along with us. -- our. I would say it is one of the

most United parties in the UK as a whole. When I go to Westminster, we

are a very strong it united party. Peter Robinson said there he has

not changed, but things have changed. It is inconceivable that

this would have ever happened even 10 years ago, five years ago.

think a lot of things that people thought were inconceivable have

happened in Northern Ireland, because politicians and civic

society have recognised we need to move forward. And that is for the

good of all people. We have accepted that the constitutional

position is settled, in my view. I believe that Northern Ireland's

position is secure in in -- in the United Kingdom. And that is what

people want. They don't want to go back to the dark days of violence

or the days of destruction. They want to move forward and that is

why you saw the coming together of society very strongly with that

despicable murder of the PC and other events. People said they

wanted the political process to continue to move forward. So whew

wrong in the past to take the never stance? No, I think we were right

to say never to united Ireland. We believe that Northern Ireland's

position is strong in the United Kingdom. But we want to work

together for the good of the country. Many of the people in the

Unionist camp wanted to move towards greater integration. So we

have always believed there is a role for politicians to work

together. I remember Tony Blair telling me in the House of Commons

that we could never achieve things that we have achieved. As a result,

we have a firm base upon which to move forward, which invites

stability and progress. At in the party's are facing up to the

challenges of Northern Ireland and attempting to work with others. --

I think the parties are facing up. Comments like other Unionists

seeing us as not ethically more or the equivalent of them, it goes

back to the days when it people fought there were decent people and

not decent people. I think people have rejected that approach now.

Were you involved in those talks in the Ulster Unionist Party? The

talks about corporation? What I will say is that the party has

always taken an approach of co- operation. I'm not going to go into

the details of discussions. But you were at them? They are not secret,

but they are private and it would be remiss of me to start talking

about the content or who was at them or who wasn't at them without

the full support of others who were there. But we are there to try to

work together. That is what people right across communities want, they

want parties of different perspectives working together. I

think it is strange when you see people coming on, briefing the

press as we have had, saying, we won more opposition opposition's

sake. That is putting party before country, party before people.

you see one meet Unionist Party in the future? First of all we have to

work together. So, electoral pacts in the meantime? I don't think we

can describe what is going to happen but there is a moot in the

Community's at large in Northern Ireland for parties to work

together. -- communities. As Unionist parties we could work very

closely together, we have a lot in common. Is there place for David in

your party should he want it? have had many join our party and

there is always a welcome to those who subscribe to the views and

principles of the Democratic Unionist Party. That is entirely a

matter for everybody themselves, but if people want to join a

progressive party that is looking for the best for Northern Ireland,

bringing people together and working together, then I think we

are a natural choice. For some reaction to all of this

let's speak to SDLP councillor Nicola Mallon and commentator

Newton Emerson. Where does this leave the SDLP if they had to merge

with Sinn Fein? We are clear. We stick to our beliefs and our vision.

We do have concerns, let's be honest, this is about the

politicisation of the DUP and we don't think it is conducive to

building reconciliation, to have monolithic blocks of nationalism

verses unionism. Newton Emerson, what is your take on this? They are

being continually triangulates it. A cynic might say it is when we in

for the DUP. -- win-win. People are seriously starting to wonder what

the UUP is four. What do you think about his leadership and his

chances of remaining in the long- term? Some people still seem to

think that the you p can be a broad church but the congregation is

shrinking. The UUP, if it is going to survive, needs to find a role

and focus on it. We cannot have these two Unionist parties saying

we are the sole Unionist Party, no, we are the salt Unionist Party.

They have to find a niche, separate roles.

Now for our regular look at the week in 60 seconds with our

political correspondent Gareth Gordon.

As the source of the disease outbreak is fan, the questions

begin. Could more have been done before three babies died? I suspect

the answer to that question would be yes. And as the debate over

independence rages, Scotland finally heard what the question

would be. The question is, "de believe that Scotland should be an

independent country?" new memoirs caused a stir. I don't regret a

word. And the Tourist Board got a new slogan from an unlikely source.

If you are not in Northern Ireland Staying with the tourist theme,

Derry didn't when the cup, but they did when the flower. We are

expecting something like 300,000 visitors, it is just another

example of what Northern Ireland can do in tourism and we are

building on that in the next couple of years. Newton, you won so

impressed with the adverts in your column this week. It just looks

like the at any region in the UK produces. Very familiar to the one

in Yorkshire, for example. But the unusual reaction was how popular it

was here, it when viral locally. I think people here seem to want to

believe that we're the sort of place betrayed an advert, but I

fear that tourists arriving here will be very disappointed. Visitors

is the problem, isn't it? The number of pure holidaymakers was

dying past year. 11%, yes. City breaks, I think Northern Ireland,

to visit it solely as a city location, that is going to be the

sort of discretion the spending that gets cut first by people

trying to save money. Coming to places like Northern Ireland

speculatively like people used to go to, I think that market might be

gone completely. Nicola, if we can't do it is here, we will never

do it. Well, we have got the City of Culture, and even this year we

have Titanic, so there are a lot of opportunities, they just have to be

captured. We have a lot to offer, but the most important thing is our

people. We have to put our shoulders to the well and try to

get as many people to experience the country as possible. Is there a

sense, particularly in your constituency of North Belfast, do

people feel part of the celebrations? I think there is an

element of disengagement. The area I represent is working class and

there is a sense that perhaps the peace process has not delivered in

that area as it has elsewhere. But that means there is a

responsibility on us to ensure all communities across Northern Ireland

get to be part of his then get to benefit from it. -- part of this

and get to benefit from it. councils have to do the job the

best they can, but I would be concerned that things like our

licensing laws and Sunday trading laws have not been addressed at all,

so people coming here for a weekend spent half the weekend with

literally nothing to do. So they have to look elsewhere, really, and

perhaps not choose Northern Ireland as a destination? We have to