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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sinn Fein sell PSNI to supporters | Sinn Fein sell PSNI to supporters |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Sinn Fein leadership is to hold debates across Northern Ireland to sell to grass-roots republicans the idea of backing policing. | The Sinn Fein leadership is to hold debates across Northern Ireland to sell to grass-roots republicans the idea of backing policing. |
| The party's executive decided on Saturday to hold a special conference on the issue in Dublin on 28 January. More than 2,000 republicans will vote. | The party's executive decided on Saturday to hold a special conference on the issue in Dublin on 28 January. More than 2,000 republicans will vote. |
| DUP leader Ian Paisley said the decision to call a conference was "a step forward". | DUP leader Ian Paisley said the decision to call a conference was "a step forward". |
| He said it would only be movement when there was delivery on the ground. | He said it would only be movement when there was delivery on the ground. |
| "The question is do they intend to proceed with offering support to the police and the courts and encouraging their supporters to do so as soon as the motion is passed?" he said. | "The question is do they intend to proceed with offering support to the police and the courts and encouraging their supporters to do so as soon as the motion is passed?" he said. |
| "The DUP will not be moving until there is full delivery on the ground and the DUP will not be found wanting if there is." | "The DUP will not be moving until there is full delivery on the ground and the DUP will not be found wanting if there is." |
| Crucial | Crucial |
| Some republicans view accepting policing as a step too far but prime ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern see it as crucial for restoring devolution. | Some republicans view accepting policing as a step too far but prime ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern see it as crucial for restoring devolution. |
| Mr Blair also insists the DUP must pledge to share power with republicans. | Mr Blair also insists the DUP must pledge to share power with republicans. |
| Assembly elections are planned for 7 March, and 26 March is the two governments' target date for the restoration of devolution. | |
| Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams told party colleagues on Saturday 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". | Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams told party colleagues on Saturday 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". |
| The decision to hold the conference was welcomed by the British and Irish governments, as well as PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde. | The decision to hold the conference was welcomed by the British and Irish governments, as well as PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde. |
| Mark Durkan, leader of the nationalist SDLP, said Sinn Fein's ard fheis must agree to "accept policing, with no ifs or buts". | Mark Durkan, leader of the nationalist SDLP, said Sinn Fein's ard fheis must agree to "accept policing, with no ifs or buts". |
| Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey called for DUP leaders to meet the leadership of Sinn Fein "openly and with the public's knowledge, rather than more of these discussions going on behind people's backs". | Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey called for DUP leaders to meet the leadership of Sinn Fein "openly and with the public's knowledge, rather than more of these discussions going on behind people's backs". |