Post by RedFlag32 on May 9, 2007 18:16:11 GMT
DUP given access to MI-5 files
The DUP are to be given access to informtion held by MI5 and other
British government security services.
By:UTV
This follows the announcement today that DUP party leader Ian Paisley
is to be joined on the Privy Council by party colleagues Peter
Robinson and Jeffrey Donaldson.
Ken Reid, UTV`s Political Editor, understands that the significance
of the move is because with three memebers on the Privy Council the
DUP would then be able to access classified information.
Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Jeffrey Donaldson will form the DUP
security committee which in turn will report to a security panel
within the party.
DUP sources say they will not have to rely on informaiton from the
Independent Monitoring Commission set up to deal with the issue of
illegal guns.
UTV understands the move follows negotiations that formed part of the
St Andrews Agreement late last year.
Sinn Fein did not cooperate with the IMC but party sources say that
the IRA is no threat to the peace process.
The party`s deputy leader Peter Robinson and the Lagan Valley MP
Jeffrey Donaldson will be able to use the title The Right Honourable
and be able to take part in meetings of the council.
The appointments were welcomed by Mr Paisley who said he was
delighted they were joining him on the Council.
"Our Privy Councillors, together with the DUP Police Board members,
will adopt a monitoring role over all security and intelligence
matters over the coming months and years," the North Antrim MP said.
Mr Robinson was yesterday appointed the new Stormont Finance and
Personnel Minister and will have a major say over the budget of the
new power sharing administration.
He has been the MP for East Belfast since 1979 when he was also made
deputy leader of the DUP.
He previously served as the Regional Development Minister in the
Stormont power sharing government which operated between 1999 and
2002.
Mr Donaldson has been an MP since 1997.
A former member of the Ulster Unionists, he defected to the DUP after
the 2003 Assembly Election and after a bitter battle with former UUP
leader Lord Trimble over party policy.
He was a former assistant to the Ulster Unionist MP Enoch Powell and
was a protege of former UUP leader Lord Molyneaux.
Today, Mr Donaldson was also appointed chairman of the Institutional
Review Committee in the Assembly.
The DUP are to be given access to informtion held by MI5 and other
British government security services.
By:UTV
This follows the announcement today that DUP party leader Ian Paisley
is to be joined on the Privy Council by party colleagues Peter
Robinson and Jeffrey Donaldson.
Ken Reid, UTV`s Political Editor, understands that the significance
of the move is because with three memebers on the Privy Council the
DUP would then be able to access classified information.
Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Jeffrey Donaldson will form the DUP
security committee which in turn will report to a security panel
within the party.
DUP sources say they will not have to rely on informaiton from the
Independent Monitoring Commission set up to deal with the issue of
illegal guns.
UTV understands the move follows negotiations that formed part of the
St Andrews Agreement late last year.
Sinn Fein did not cooperate with the IMC but party sources say that
the IRA is no threat to the peace process.
The party`s deputy leader Peter Robinson and the Lagan Valley MP
Jeffrey Donaldson will be able to use the title The Right Honourable
and be able to take part in meetings of the council.
The appointments were welcomed by Mr Paisley who said he was
delighted they were joining him on the Council.
"Our Privy Councillors, together with the DUP Police Board members,
will adopt a monitoring role over all security and intelligence
matters over the coming months and years," the North Antrim MP said.
Mr Robinson was yesterday appointed the new Stormont Finance and
Personnel Minister and will have a major say over the budget of the
new power sharing administration.
He has been the MP for East Belfast since 1979 when he was also made
deputy leader of the DUP.
He previously served as the Regional Development Minister in the
Stormont power sharing government which operated between 1999 and
2002.
Mr Donaldson has been an MP since 1997.
A former member of the Ulster Unionists, he defected to the DUP after
the 2003 Assembly Election and after a bitter battle with former UUP
leader Lord Trimble over party policy.
He was a former assistant to the Ulster Unionist MP Enoch Powell and
was a protege of former UUP leader Lord Molyneaux.
Today, Mr Donaldson was also appointed chairman of the Institutional
Review Committee in the Assembly.