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31 October 1998
Governments must ensure Agreement is implemented
Sinn Fein Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin, speaking at a meeting of party's Ard Chomhairle in Dublin today, said that the failure to meet the deadline for the establishment of the shadow Executive and all-Ireland Bodies is a clear breach of the Good Friday Agreement and a serious setback for all involved. He said that instead of defending David Trimble in his attempts to rewrite the Agreement, people should focus on the urgent task of implementing what was agreed on Good Friday.
Mr McLaughlin said:
``The failure to keep to the October 31st deadline which was agreed by all of the parties for the establishment of the shadow Executive and all-Ireland bodies is a clear breach of the Good Friday Agreement and a serious setback for all involved.
``The key issue to be resolved at this time is the creation of the Executive. And in discussions surrounding the all-Ireland bodies we must be clear that the all-Ireland Ministerial Council and policy implementation bodies are interlocking and interdependent on the creation of the Executive.
``The Agreement is the result of a lengthy period of inclusive negotiations by all of the parties and the two governments. Therefore there is a huge responsbility on those who negotiated and endsed the Agreement to see its commitments delivered.
``Furthermore the British and Irish governments, in line with the commitments made in the Good Friday Agreement, have a duty to ensure that the Agreement is implemented in full.
``Sinn Fein are entitled to positions in the Executive and the all-Ireland Ministerial Council and the people of Ireland are equally entitled to see the Agreement which voted for acted upon.
``The immediate question to be answered by the two governments and the Agreement itself is will these democratic rights be upheld or will David Trimble continue to be allowed to override the wishes of the vast majority of people.
``If this Agreement is to develop and be built upon then the political institutions agreed on Good Friday must immediately be developed in full.
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