This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8556804.stm

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Bush in Tory plea over NI deal Bush in Tory plea over NI deal
(40 minutes later)
Ex-US President George W Bush has asked David Cameron to try to get the Ulster Unionists to back devolution of justice and policing in Northern Ireland. Ex-US President George W Bush has asked David Cameron to help secure the Ulster Unionists' support for the transfer of justice powers in Northern Ireland.
The NI Assembly is due to vote on the transfer of powers from Westminster, a day after Ulster Unionists confirmed they would reject it. The NI Assembly is due to vote on the transfer of powers from Westminster later. On Monday, the Ulster Unionist Party confirmed they would vote "no".
Their decision will not scupper the deal. But there are fears that, without all-party support, it could collapse. Their decision will not scupper the deal. The DUP and Sinn Fein have enough votes to ensure that it is passed.
The Conservatives have an electoral pact with the UUP, prompting the call. Mr Bush and US Secretary Hillary Clinton have both given their help.
If the vote is passed, it will lead to the powers being devolved by 12 April. The Conservatives have an electoral pact with the UUP, prompting the call from Mr Bush to Tory leader, Mr Cameron.
The vote at Stormont is the first hurdle facing the Hillsborough Castle deal, which was struck last month in an historic agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein. Mrs Clinton spoke to Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, at the weekend.
In his phone call from Mr Bush on Friday, Mr Cameron made it clear that, despite his party's links with the UUP, he was not in a position to tell them what to do. The vote at Stormont is the first hurdle for the Hillsborough Castle deal, which was struck last month in an historic agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein.
If the vote is passed, it will lead to powers being devolved by 12 April.
The DUP and Sinn Fein have enough assembly members to ensure the vote has the necessary cross-community support to be passed.
In his phone conversation with Mr Bush on Friday, Mr Cameron made it clear that, despite his party's links with the UUP, he was not in a position to tell them what to do.
ANALYSIS Mark Simpson, BBC Ireland correspondentANALYSIS Mark Simpson, BBC Ireland correspondent
Devolving policing and justiceDevolving policing and justice
It took 10 days and nights to negotiate the Hillsborough Castle deal, and now it faces its first hurdle. Tuesday's vote at Stormont is important - just ask former President George Bush and the current US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.It took 10 days and nights to negotiate the Hillsborough Castle deal, and now it faces its first hurdle. Tuesday's vote at Stormont is important - just ask former President George Bush and the current US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
They have been involved in trans-Atlantic telephone diplomacy to try to ensure that the vote on the transfer of policing powers from London to Belfast gains all-party support.They have been involved in trans-Atlantic telephone diplomacy to try to ensure that the vote on the transfer of policing powers from London to Belfast gains all-party support.
Barring a last-minute dramatic twist, that won't happen. The Ulster Unionists will say "no".Barring a last-minute dramatic twist, that won't happen. The Ulster Unionists will say "no".
However, this will not scupper the deal. If the Democratic Unionists vote "yes" - and all the indications so far are that they will - the motion will be passed.However, this will not scupper the deal. If the Democratic Unionists vote "yes" - and all the indications so far are that they will - the motion will be passed.
So why all the fuss? It seems there are fears that the deal could eventually collapse without all-party support.So why all the fuss? It seems there are fears that the deal could eventually collapse without all-party support.
The BBC's Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson said of the discussion: "Once again, the Stormont Assembly is attracting international attention."
On Monday, the UUP accused Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward of political and emotional blackmail after he urged the Ulster Unionists to vote in favour of devolution.On Monday, the UUP accused Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward of political and emotional blackmail after he urged the Ulster Unionists to vote in favour of devolution.
UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy said Mr Woodward had "disgracefully" linked the vote to the anniversary of the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll.UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy said Mr Woodward had "disgracefully" linked the vote to the anniversary of the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll.
The vote takes place exactly a year after the police officer was murdered by the Continuity IRA in Craigavon.The vote takes place exactly a year after the police officer was murdered by the Continuity IRA in Craigavon.
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said later: "We're not prepared to be blackmailed, we're not prepared to be bullied. We've been around a long time.UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said later: "We're not prepared to be blackmailed, we're not prepared to be bullied. We've been around a long time.
"Our history is our strength. And we are prepared to go forward and look to the future. But not under the cosh of all this blackmail and bullying.""Our history is our strength. And we are prepared to go forward and look to the future. But not under the cosh of all this blackmail and bullying."
The DUP and Sinn Fein have enough assembly members to ensure the vote has the necessary cross-community support to be passed. However, the former DUP leader, Ian Paisley, said the UUP were making "a colossal mistake" by not voting for the devolution of policing and justice powers.
Disagreement on the timing of the devolution of the justice powers had threatened to collapse Northern Ireland's power-sharing administration.Disagreement on the timing of the devolution of the justice powers had threatened to collapse Northern Ireland's power-sharing administration.
However, Northern Ireland's two main parties managed to reach a deal which, if the powers are devolved as expected, will see a justice minister elected. However, in February, Northern Ireland's two main parties which, if the powers are devolved as expected, will see a justice minister elected.
The Hillsborough Agreement allows for the first and deputy first ministers to identify a candidate who would command cross-community support in the assembly.The Hillsborough Agreement allows for the first and deputy first ministers to identify a candidate who would command cross-community support in the assembly.
Agreement in full A truly historic deal? Policing and justice: Key points Reaction: Policing and justice Agreement in full A truly historic deal? Policing and justice: Key points Reaction: Policing and justice
Alliance leader David Ford is favourite to take the post.Alliance leader David Ford is favourite to take the post.
The SDLP's Alban Maginness is the only other candidate to have been put forward for the job. Alban Maginness, SDLP, is the only other candidate to have been put forward for the job.
The Ulster Unionists and the SDLP have insisted Alliance has no right to the post under the d'Hondt system for selecting ministers, which was agreed in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.The Ulster Unionists and the SDLP have insisted Alliance has no right to the post under the d'Hondt system for selecting ministers, which was agreed in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
The UUP also said they could not back the Hillsborough deal on policing and justice because it failed to address matters such as education, parading and "the dysfunctional nature of the current executive".The UUP also said they could not back the Hillsborough deal on policing and justice because it failed to address matters such as education, parading and "the dysfunctional nature of the current executive".
Meanwhile, an opinion poll commissioned by the Northern Ireland Executive published on Monday has indicated that the majority of people in Northern Ireland favour devolving justice powers.Meanwhile, an opinion poll commissioned by the Northern Ireland Executive published on Monday has indicated that the majority of people in Northern Ireland favour devolving justice powers.
It also suggests that 70% of unionists favour Northern Ireland politicians being in charge of policing issues, compared to 83% of nationalists.It also suggests that 70% of unionists favour Northern Ireland politicians being in charge of policing issues, compared to 83% of nationalists.