January 22 1974
The line which the vowed wreckers of the new Executive will take today when the Assembly gets under way at Stormont was still a closely guarded secret last night, with the power-sharers braced for a possible rough-house on the floor of the debating chamber.
On the eve of the meeting, Rev Ian Paisley re-emphasised: “We are not going into a united Ireland. It is not a matter of alternatives. It is a matter of direct and, if need arises, forcible refusal of the surrender policies of Mr [Brian] Faulkner and his new-found republican friends.”
For both sides, today’s sitting is historic. It will be the first ever meeting of the Assembly since the three-party Executive began to function on January 1.
Those who want to see the system succeed will be just as anxious to demonstrate that the Assembly can operate smoothly. But it will not be easy. The hard-liners have already shown what they can do – by noisily causing one session to end early and making another go on all night with filibustering tactics.
A hint of what might be in store today was given recently by Mr Paisley when he said: “The opposition will do their best to ensure that none of the Executive reach the despatch box.”
Executive’s Plans for a ‘Better Tomorrow’
The Northern Ireland Executive yesterday released a pamphlet outlining its economic and social aims for the country. Entitled “Steps to a Better Tomorrow”, it gives the guidelines agreed by the Unionists, SDLP and Alliance parties for a social and economic plan aimed at raising the standard of living, full employment, equality of opportunity and social and economic justice.
The intention is to draw up a detailed analysis of the full range of economic and social problems facing the community, and set out clear targets to bring incomes and employment levels to at least parity, in real terms, with Britain.
The Executive says: “We appreciate that this will involve the full measure of freedom which Westminster agreed to devolve. We also realise that the achievement of our basic objectives may require us to discuss with Westminster the necessity for some further Executive responsibility over taxation in Northern Ireland.”
No details are given of the form such local taxation might take or the areas where it would apply. Although the Constitution Act gives the Executive greater financial independence than the old Stormont Parliament had, central taxation up to now had been restricted largely to estate and betting duties and Road Fund licenses.