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Premiers welcome Sinn Fein move Premiers welcome Sinn Fein move
(about 3 hours later)
The decision by Sinn Fein to hold a conference to decide whether to support policing has been welcomed by Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern.The decision by Sinn Fein to hold a conference to decide whether to support policing has been welcomed by Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern.
Around 2,000 party members will attend the event in Dublin on 28 January.Around 2,000 party members will attend the event in Dublin on 28 January.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams recommended the date at a meeting of senior members in Dublin on Saturday.Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams recommended the date at a meeting of senior members in Dublin on Saturday.
The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson also welcomed the move but said his party would need to see support by Sinn Fein translated into action on the ground.The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson also welcomed the move but said his party would need to see support by Sinn Fein translated into action on the ground.
A former Sinn Fein election agent and brother of the murdered INLA leader, Dominic McGlinchey, said he will stand as an independent republican, if the assembly election goes ahead in March. Mr Blair and Mr Ahern have identified Sinn Fein support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland as being crucial to persuading the DUP to share power in a devolved government with Sinn Fein by 26 March.
Paul McGlinchey said Sinn Fein's stance on policing was "a step too far" for him and he wants to give republicans an opportunity to have their say on the policing issue. Peter Hain said Sinn Fein had played its part in breaking deadlockSecretary of State Peter Hain said Sinn Fein had "played its part in breaking the deadlock that has paralysed political progress in Northern Ireland".
Mr McGlinchey, who left Sinn Fein last month, was released from the Maze prison in 1985 after serving almost ten years for arms offences. "The St Andrews Agreement made it clear that a lasting settlement must be based on the twin pillars of support for police and justice by everyone and power-sharing on a fair and equitable basis by everyone.
Speaking on the BBC's Politics Show, Mr McGlinchey said republicans who opposed the Sinn Fein move hoped to stand candidates in at least 13 constituencies. "Of course there must be delivery on both of these commitments and there is absolutely no reason why we should not be on course for the restoration of the assembly and executive on 26 March and the devolution of policing and justice by May 2008."
Jeffrey Donaldson said the DUP "would not be found wanting in its response" if Sinn Fein delivered on "supporting the police and the rule of law, and an end to criminality and terrorism".Jeffrey Donaldson said the DUP "would not be found wanting in its response" if Sinn Fein delivered on "supporting the police and the rule of law, and an end to criminality and terrorism".
"It is essential that if we are to make progress and move towards the restoration of the institutions at Stormont that Sinn Fein make these moves and continue and build on what has happened today," he said."It is essential that if we are to make progress and move towards the restoration of the institutions at Stormont that Sinn Fein make these moves and continue and build on what has happened today," he said.
The Sinn Fein conference had been in doubt after the party accused the DUP - its potential power-sharing partner - of not responding positively to calls for it.The Sinn Fein conference had been in doubt after the party accused the DUP - its potential power-sharing partner - of not responding positively to calls for it.
The DUP denies Sinn Fein claims that it reneged on a deal on devolving policing and justice powers by May 2008. 'A step too far'
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. Meanwhile, potential difficulties facing Sinn Fein in persuading grass roots republicans to support policing have been highlighted by one of its former election agents, Paul McGlinchey.
Mr Adams needed two-thirds of the 46 voting members to agree to hold the conference at the end of the month. The brother of murdered INLA leader, Dominic McGlinchey, says he will stand as an independent republican, if the assembly election goes ahead in March.
I am not in the business of saying one thing in private and another in public Ian PaisleyDUP leader Paul McGlinchey said Sinn Fein's stance on policing was "a step too far" for him and he wants to give republicans an opportunity to have their say on the policing issue.
Last month, Sinn Fein backed calls for the special convention or ard fheis to be held, on the basis of a positive response from the British and Irish governments and DUP leader Ian Paisley. Mr McGlinchey, who left Sinn Fein last month, was released from the Maze prison in 1985 after serving almost ten years for arms offences.
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. Speaking on the BBC's Politics Show, Mr McGlinchey said republicans who opposed the Sinn Fein move hoped to stand candidates in at least 13 constituencies.
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.
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.
"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.
"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."