This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6258329.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Sinn Fein in key policing talks Sinn Fein in key policing talks
(about 3 hours later)
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is to recommend that his party's special conference on whether to back policing should take place on 28 January. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams is recommending that his party's special conference on whether to back policing should take place on 28 January.
Senior party officials are meeting in Dublin to discuss the issue.Senior party officials are meeting in Dublin to discuss the issue.
In recent weeks, the conference has been in doubt as Sinn Fein accused the DUP of not responding positively to calls for its ard fheis on policing.In recent weeks, the conference has been in doubt as Sinn Fein accused the DUP of not responding positively to calls for its ard fheis on policing.
The DUP denies Sinn Fein claims it has reneged on a deal on devolving policing and justice powers by May 2008.The DUP denies Sinn Fein claims it has reneged on a deal on devolving policing and justice powers by May 2008.
Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Premier Bertie Ahern have identified Sinn Fein support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as being crucial to persuading the DUP to share power in a devolved government with Sinn Fein by 26 March.Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Premier Bertie Ahern have identified Sinn Fein support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as being crucial to persuading the DUP to share power in a devolved government with Sinn Fein by 26 March.
Mr Adams needs two-thirds of the 46 voting members to agree to hold the conference at the end of the month.
I am not in the business of saying one thing in private and another in public Ian PaisleyDUP leader Last month, Sinn Fein backed calls for the ard fheis to be held, on the basis of a positive response from the British and Irish governments and DUP leader Ian Paisley.I am not in the business of saying one thing in private and another in public Ian PaisleyDUP leader Last month, Sinn Fein backed calls for the ard fheis to be held, on the basis of a positive response from the British and Irish governments and DUP leader Ian Paisley.
When the words of approval they expected from the DUP leader did not materialise, republicans began to cast doubt on whether the special Sinn Fein conference on policing would take place.When the words of approval they expected from the DUP leader did not materialise, republicans began to cast doubt on whether the special Sinn Fein conference on policing would take place.
Mr Paisley said he had made no commitment which went beyond recent public statements.Mr Paisley said he had made no commitment which went beyond recent public statements.
However, as he prepared for Saturday's meeting, Mr Adams accused the DUP leader of reneging on a deal which would have seen him use an agreed form of words in his New Year statement responding to Sinn Fein's national executive decision.However, as he prepared for Saturday's meeting, Mr Adams accused the DUP leader of reneging on a deal which would have seen him use an agreed form of words in his New Year statement responding to Sinn Fein's national executive decision.
We still need civic policing, we still need to have an accountable police service and we still need to get the power-sharing institutions in place Gerry AdamsSinn Fein leader The DUP denied that it had made any commitment to Mr Blair and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, particularly on the issue of the transfer of policing and justice powers by May 2008.We still need civic policing, we still need to have an accountable police service and we still need to get the power-sharing institutions in place Gerry AdamsSinn Fein leader The DUP denied that it had made any commitment to Mr Blair and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, particularly on the issue of the transfer of policing and justice powers by May 2008.
'Move ahead''Move ahead'
"I am not in the business of saying one thing in private and another in public," Mr Paisley said."I am not in the business of saying one thing in private and another in public," Mr Paisley said.
Mr Adams said he would be urging his national executive to judge everything in the round.Mr Adams said he would be urging his national executive to judge everything in the round.
"In my presentation I will put to people that we still need civic policing, we still need to have an accountable police service and we still need to get the power-sharing institutions in place," the West Belfast MP said."In my presentation I will put to people that we still need civic policing, we still need to have an accountable police service and we still need to get the power-sharing institutions in place," the West Belfast MP said.
"We cannot allow others to dictate the pace of change.""We cannot allow others to dictate the pace of change."
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has accused some DUP politicians of showing "begrudgery" over recent developments in the peace process.Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has accused some DUP politicians of showing "begrudgery" over recent developments in the peace process.
Mr Hain said he hoped the Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle meeting on Saturday would schedule a special party conference on policing.Mr Hain said he hoped the Sinn Fein Ard Comhairle meeting on Saturday would schedule a special party conference on policing.
In an interview for Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme, Mr Hain insisted that the time had come for both Sinn Fein and the DUP to move forward.In an interview for Radio Ulster's Inside Politics programme, Mr Hain insisted that the time had come for both Sinn Fein and the DUP to move forward.
"I think this is make your mind up time and I hope we can get clarity from Sinn Fein on policing," he said."I think this is make your mind up time and I hope we can get clarity from Sinn Fein on policing," he said.
"I hope that the DUP will be a little more encouraging of that as well, rather than the begrudging attitude you get from too many DUP politicians, most of them backbenchers, which doesn't create the kind of climate (where) everybody's trying to move forward together rather than to snipe at each other.""I hope that the DUP will be a little more encouraging of that as well, rather than the begrudging attitude you get from too many DUP politicians, most of them backbenchers, which doesn't create the kind of climate (where) everybody's trying to move forward together rather than to snipe at each other."