The deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr John Taylor, yesterday urged the Irish Government to fulfil its role in implementing the Belfast Agreement and said that "very little movement" had so far been shown by the Government to complete the requirements.
"I want to see Dublin implementing what the agreement requires," Mr Taylor said. This included the establishment of a human rights commission, proceeding with arrangements to ratify the Council of Ireland, and the introduction of employment equality and equal status legislation.
The DUP Assembly Member for North Belfast, Mr Nigel Dodds, was also criticised by Mr Taylor for remarks suggesting that the North-South council would not be accountable to the Assembly. He said that the report was clear on how the council was accountable.
Mr Dodds said that the proposed new governmental structures, which would include North-South bodies with executive powers, represented "a staging post to Irish unity". The passing of the report drawn up by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister represented a "black day" for unionism.
Once Sinn Fein was allowed into the executive, it could only be removed by a cross-community vote, which would necessitate the SDLP voting Sinn Fein out. "That's as likely as John Hume getting a new speechwriter," Mr Dodds said.
Mr Eddie McGrady, SDLP Assembly Member for South Down, said that the decommissioning issue was being used as an "emotive vehicle" to defeat the purpose of setting up a government in Northern Ireland.