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| Sinn Fein votes to support police | Sinn Fein votes to support police |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sinn Fein members have voted to support policing in Northern Ireland for the first time in the party's history. | Sinn Fein members have voted to support policing in Northern Ireland for the first time in the party's history. |
| About 900 party members voted on the motion at a special party conference (ard fheis) in Dublin which was attended by about 2,000 people. | About 900 party members voted on the motion at a special party conference (ard fheis) in Dublin which was attended by about 2,000 people. |
| Sinn Fein support for policing and DUP commitment to power-sharing are seen as essential to restoring NI devolution. | Sinn Fein support for policing and DUP commitment to power-sharing are seen as essential to restoring NI devolution. |
| A six hour debate was cut short as the leadership forced a vote which was carried with almost unanimous support. | A six hour debate was cut short as the leadership forced a vote which was carried with almost unanimous support. |
| Speaking after the vote, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said the decision was truly historic. | Speaking after the vote, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said the decision was truly historic. |
| "Today you have created the potential to change the political landscape on this island forever," he said. | "Today you have created the potential to change the political landscape on this island forever," he said. |
| "You have created the opportunity to significantly advance our struggle and you have seized the opportunity to further our primary objective of united Ireland through the building of greater political strength." | "You have created the opportunity to significantly advance our struggle and you have seized the opportunity to further our primary objective of united Ireland through the building of greater political strength." |
| Mr Adams also said that republicanism and unionism had reached an historic compromise. | Mr Adams also said that republicanism and unionism had reached an historic compromise. |
| You have created the potential to change the political landscape on this island forever Gerry Adams Sinn Fein motion in full | |
| "If the promise and hope of the peace process is to deliver peace andprosperity, that means beginning a real dialogue, an anti-sectarian dialogue, a dialogue which will move us to a real future," he added. | "If the promise and hope of the peace process is to deliver peace andprosperity, that means beginning a real dialogue, an anti-sectarian dialogue, a dialogue which will move us to a real future," he added. |
| A spokesman for Tony Blair said the prime minister welcomed the "historic decision and recognised the leadership it has taken to get to this point". | A spokesman for Tony Blair said the prime minister welcomed the "historic decision and recognised the leadership it has taken to get to this point". |
| PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde also welcomed the move. | PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde also welcomed the move. |
| "Our view has always been that policing is a public service which every member of the community should be able to access on an equal and equitable basis," he said. | "Our view has always been that policing is a public service which every member of the community should be able to access on an equal and equitable basis," he said. |
| "I have always said that no ideology or individual should stand between the public and that service and that the community is entitled to have their public representatives hold this police service to account." | "I have always said that no ideology or individual should stand between the public and that service and that the community is entitled to have their public representatives hold this police service to account." |
| Professor Sir Desmond Rea, chairman of the Policing Board, said he was now looking forward to Sinn Fein joining the body. | |
| "Full political and community support for policing will be for the benefit of the whole community," he added. | |
| Mr 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 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. |
| If an election does not occur, Stormont will be dissolved indefinitely. | If an election does not occur, Stormont will be dissolved indefinitely. |
| The transitional assembly at Stormont will dissolve on 30 January in anticipation of an election on 7 March. | The transitional assembly at Stormont will dissolve on 30 January in anticipation of an election on 7 March. |