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Parties to meet on justice plans Parties meeting on justice plans
(about 3 hours later)
The first and deputy first minister are to meet other assembly parties on Thursday to outline proposals on the devolution of policing and justice. The first and deputy first minister are meeting other assembly parties to outline proposals on the devolution of policing and justice.
Delegations from the Ulster Unionists, Alliance and the SDLP will meet the ministers at Stormont castle. Delegations from the Ulster Unionists, Alliance and the SDLP are meeting the ministers at Stormont castle.
It comes after Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness held a series of intensive meetings with the prime minister on Wednesday. The Alliance leader David Ford said he "understands Gordon Brown's financial package on policing and Justice is in the region of £800m".
Mr Ford was briefed but has not been given a copy of the PM's offer.
Mr Ford is likely to become Justice Minister under a deal agreed by the DUP and Sinn Fein.
Speaking on Thursday, Mr Ford said it was important that aside from the finances, agreement should be achieved on policies like a new football offences act, reform of the Prison Service and better services for victims and witnesses.
The meetings come after Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness held a series of intensive meetings with the prime minister on Wednesday.
They discussed the financial package for the devolution of justice.They discussed the financial package for the devolution of justice.
Ahead of the meeting, Alliance leader, David Ford, said the policies a Department of Justice would implement were more important than the money provided for it. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Ford said the policies a Department of Justice would implement were more important than the money provided for it.
"If we can't get policies that are agreed within the assembly, then no Justice Department will be able to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland," he said."If we can't get policies that are agreed within the assembly, then no Justice Department will be able to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland," he said.
"We could end up with the same kind of chaos we have in the Education Department."
Mr Ford is likely to become Justice Minister under a deal agreed by the DUP and Sinn Fein.
Mark Durkan, leader of the SDLP, said he hoped the first and deputy first ministers would indicate that they had "agreed a pathway for the completion of the transfer of policing and justice".Mark Durkan, leader of the SDLP, said he hoped the first and deputy first ministers would indicate that they had "agreed a pathway for the completion of the transfer of policing and justice".
"Obviously, we are deeply opposed to the DUP/Sinn Fein plans to have the justice minister appointed completely outside the terms of the Good Friday Agreement," he said."Obviously, we are deeply opposed to the DUP/Sinn Fein plans to have the justice minister appointed completely outside the terms of the Good Friday Agreement," he said.
"This is not just because we are the party who will be discriminated against and denied the rights of our mandate in this instance. The record shows that we are opposed to all proposals to exclude parties in any way or to depart from the tenets of the Agreement."
PublicationPublication
First Minister Peter Robinson has said he would welcome the publication of plans outlining the devolution of policing and justice.First Minister Peter Robinson has said he would welcome the publication of plans outlining the devolution of policing and justice.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to consider showing the assembly the budget for devolution.Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to consider showing the assembly the budget for devolution.
Mr Robinson said he would welcome the publication, but added that two issues still "require further clarification".Mr Robinson said he would welcome the publication, but added that two issues still "require further clarification".
"I would welcome the publication of the proposals to inform the public on this important issue," he said."I would welcome the publication of the proposals to inform the public on this important issue," he said.
"I also believe it would be most useful for the prime minister's proposals to be shared with the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.""I also believe it would be most useful for the prime minister's proposals to be shared with the Assembly and Executive Review Committee."
The party declined to say what the outstanding issues were at the moment.The party declined to say what the outstanding issues were at the moment.
Sinn Fein have accepted the deal and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said any points in the budget that "need clarifying are purely technical".Sinn Fein have accepted the deal and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said any points in the budget that "need clarifying are purely technical".
BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said there seems to be an increasing sense on all sides that it would be a good idea to publish the terms.BBC NI political editor Mark Devenport said there seems to be an increasing sense on all sides that it would be a good idea to publish the terms.
"One of the reasons is, I think, that Peter Robinson if he decides to move on this wants to get other parties on side.
"Yesterday the SDLP were complaining quite angrily that this was being kept within the DUP and Sinn Fein."
Mr Robinson said that he would be discussing the proposals with the chief constable, the head of the Northern Ireland Court Service and other party leaders in the assembly.
"In addition to finance arrangements, work remains to be done on other institutional arrangements as well as measures that are needed in order to achieve community confidence," he said.