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Parties briefed on justice plans | Parties briefed on justice plans |
(39 minutes later) | |
Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have briefed other parties on outline proposals for the devolution of policing and justice. | Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have briefed other parties on outline proposals for the devolution of policing and justice. |
Delegations from the UUP, Alliance and the SDLP met Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness at Stormont castle. | Delegations from the UUP, Alliance and the SDLP met Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness at Stormont castle. |
SDLP leader Mark Durkan pointed out that the big issue of when justice powers might be transferred still remains undecided | SDLP leader Mark Durkan pointed out that the big issue of when justice powers might be transferred still remains undecided |
His party wants this transfer to happen by 7 December. | His party wants this transfer to happen by 7 December. |
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said his party could not comment on the proposals as it did not have enough information. | |
"It is impossible to work from bits and pieces of this and that - mere hearsay," he said. | |
"We have not had sight of any substantive detail - just one conversation and therefore are unable to provide comment from the snippets which we heard today." | |
Alliance leader David Ford, who has been tipped as a future justice minister, agreed that the Prime Minister's package was in the region of £800m. | Alliance leader David Ford, who has been tipped as a future justice minister, agreed that the Prime Minister's package was in the region of £800m. |
Mr Ford called for agreement on policies like a new Football Offences Act, reform of the prison service and better treatment of victims and witnesses. | Mr Ford called for agreement on policies like a new Football Offences Act, reform of the prison service and better treatment of victims and witnesses. |
The meetings come after Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness held a series of intensive meetings with the prime minister on Wednesday. | The meetings come after Mr Robinson and Mr 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. |
Publication | Publication |
Earlier on Thursday, Mr 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. |
Mr Durkan, the SDLP leader, 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". | Mr Durkan, the SDLP leader, 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. |
Mr Robinson, leader of the DUP, has said he would welcome the publication of plans outlining the devolution of policing and justice. | Mr Robinson, leader of the DUP, 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. |