A new "get tough approach" by the interim chairman of the Northern Ireland Forum, Mr John Gorman, has provoked the ire of unionist delegates and led the DUP leader, Dr Ian Paisley, to declare that the issue of the appointment of a formal chairman would be "brought to a head" in the near future. Dr Paisley described comments made by Mr Gorman as "offensive".
During a session of the forum, Mr Gorman, a member of the Ulster Unionist Party, was criticised for saying that the meetings were becoming "too adversarial" and that little progress was being made.
He said that there was an "absurd notion" that the forum was some sort of parliament which could argue about parliamentary procedure. "We are here to find some common ground to show the world that Ulster people aren't forever fighting with each other."
Mr Gorman expressed the view that Sinn Fein could walk into the forum tomorrow without a ceasefire - or decommissioning and said that it would be "shaming" if they did so and there had been little progress in the forum. Unless anyone had a nomination for chairman, he would be prepared "to keep going to get some action from this forum".
Mr Cedric Wilson, of the UK Unionist Party, called on Mr Gorman to apologise for his remarks about Sinn Fein, saying that the people of Northern Ireland had withstood 25 years of murder and bombings by IRA/Sinn Fein.
Dr Paisley said that Mr Gorman's remarks were "offensive" and "not in keeping with the role of a chairman". He called on the Ulster Unionists to formally put Mr Gorman forward as their nominee for chairman and then they would see what the situation was.
Mr David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, said he had had informal consultations with the parties. A 75 per cent majority would be required to formally elect a chairman and, since he did not believe there would be a 75 per cent majority for any nominee, it would be unhelpful and would only undermine the role of the forum if the matter was pushed to a vote.
