Unionists threaten Dail sanctions
Monday August 01 2005
As speculation mounted that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will move in the autumn to grant 18 MPs and three MEPs a role in Dail debates, Sir Reg Empey confirmed his party had told the British and Irish Governments it would retaliate by refusing to operate cross-border bodies under devolution.
"I said this was outside the terms of the Good Friday Agreement and it was a breach of the principle that the consent of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland would be required before there is any change to our constitutional status," said The former Stormont Economy Minister.. "This move is dangerous because it would effectively be setting up an embryonic all-Ireland Parliament," he added. "If it is pursued by Dublin, we will no longer be obligated to our support for north-south institutions."
