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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Premiers welcome Sinn Fein move | Premiers welcome Sinn Fein move |
| (30 minutes 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Adams told party colleagues they had taken "the historic and courageous decision to proceed to an ard fheis on policing despite the failure of the DUP to respond positively". | |
| Peter Hain said Sinn Fein had played its part in breaking deadlock"I believe that the new beginning to policing promised in the Good Friday Agreement is now within our grasp," he added. | |
| Secretary of State Peter Hain said Sinn Fein had "played its part in breaking the deadlock that has paralysed political progress in Northern Ireland". | |
| "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. | "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. |
| "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." | "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. |
| 'A step too far' | 'A step too far' |
| 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. | 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. |
| The brother of murdered INLA leader, Dominic McGlinchey, says he will stand as an independent republican, if the assembly election goes ahead in March. | The brother of murdered INLA leader, Dominic McGlinchey, says he will stand as an independent republican, if the assembly election goes ahead in 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. | 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. |
| Mr McGlinchey, who left Sinn Fein last month, was released from the Maze prison in 1985 after serving almost ten years for arms offences. | Mr McGlinchey, who left Sinn Fein last month, was released from the Maze prison in 1985 after serving almost ten years for arms offences. |
| 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. | 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. |