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Sinn Fein want justice 'date set' | Sinn Fein want justice 'date set' |
(20 minutes later) | |
A date for the transfer of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland must be set before Christmas, Martin McGuinness has said. | A date for the transfer of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland must be set before Christmas, Martin McGuinness has said. |
The Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister was speaking after meeting the Republic of Ireland's leader, Brian Cowen. | |
The DUP and Sinn Fein have been arguing for months over the issue, often referred to as the "last piece of the devolution jig-saw". | The DUP and Sinn Fein have been arguing for months over the issue, often referred to as the "last piece of the devolution jig-saw". |
PM Gordon Brown is to discuss the issue with Taoiseach Cowen on Monday. | |
"What is required is a date to be agreed prior to Christmas for the transfer to take place and to take effect early in the New Year," Mr McGuinness said. | "What is required is a date to be agreed prior to Christmas for the transfer to take place and to take effect early in the New Year," Mr McGuinness said. |
He said that "ongoing attacks" by First Minister Peter Robinson on the decision-making processes were of concern. | He said that "ongoing attacks" by First Minister Peter Robinson on the decision-making processes were of concern. |
"I see these attacks as a very clear example of the failure on the part of the DUP to embrace the equality, partnership and power-sharing arrangements which lie at the heart of these agreements ," he said. | "I see these attacks as a very clear example of the failure on the part of the DUP to embrace the equality, partnership and power-sharing arrangements which lie at the heart of these agreements ," he said. |
Mr Robinson has said that he wants community designation replaced by a 65% weighted majority system to "ensure widespread support" but which would stop any single party having "a veto on progress". | Mr Robinson has said that he wants community designation replaced by a 65% weighted majority system to "ensure widespread support" but which would stop any single party having "a veto on progress". |
"It would encourage co-operation and compromise and end the potential of blackmail by stalemate," he told a DUP meeting in Foyle last week. | "It would encourage co-operation and compromise and end the potential of blackmail by stalemate," he told a DUP meeting in Foyle last week. |
The DUP leader has said policing devolution will only take place when there is sufficient community confidence. | The DUP leader has said policing devolution will only take place when there is sufficient community confidence. |