Statement by TUV vice-chairman Keith Harbinson:

“On this morning’s edition of the Nolan Show Arleen Foster claimed that the her party’s 2007 manifesto did not state that the removal of the IRA’s murderous Army Council was a prerequisite for the restoration of devolution and accused me of misleading the listeners.

“However, on page four of that manifesto a resolution by the party executive is reproduced. It stated:
“The DUP holds to its long standing position that there can only be an agreement involving Sinn Fein when there has been delivery by the republican movement, tested and proved over a credible period, in terms of support for the PSNI, the Courts and the rule of law, a complete end to paramilitary and criminal activity and the removal of terrorist structures.”
 
“On page 6 the DUP listed what they called their Seven Principles. Number 4 reads:
“Terrorist structures and weaponry must be removed before the bar to the Stormont Executive can be opened.”

“Again, on page 26 the party said:
“All paramilitary and criminal activity and terrorist structures must be abandoned before Sinn Fein is admitted to Government.”

“If the Army Council isn’t part of “terrorist structures” what is it? When the DUP pledged that all “terrorist structures” had to go pre-devolution what exactly did they mean?

“And let’s look at what the party has said specifically about the devolution of policing and justice in more recent times.

“In February 2008 Peter Robinson stated:
"Our manifesto states that devolution [of policing and justice] 'can only happen when there is the necessary support within the community'. That is the trigger mechanism.

"While Mr Brown and Mr Ahern may feel the 'time is right' we do not hold to such a view while the IRA Army Council still exists."

“Speaking in the House of Commons in March Jeffrey Donaldson stated:
“Surely the greatest leverage that the Government can apply on the republican movement is to insist that the army council is removed before there is devolution of policing and justice”.

“I await Mrs Foster’s response with interest.”