McGuinness 'hopeful' over devolution

Published Tuesday, 30 June 2009
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Martin McGuinness has said he remained hopeful issues surrounding devolution of policing and justice could be resolved soon.

The deputy First Minister met Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street on Tuesday night.

Sinn Fein said it had understood that Peter Robinson was due to attend the meeting along with Mr McGuinness.

A party spokesman said the pair's previous meeting with the Prime Minister earlier this month ended with an agreement to hold a follow-up meeting, which Sinn Fein said was then scheduled for Tuesday.

Sinn Fein said it only learned on Monday night that Mr Robinson would not be attending.

Ahead of the meeting it was said the London discussions were likely to focus on the financial package necessary to fund the transfer of the powers to Stormont.

Mr Robinson dismissed republican suggestions that he had withdrawn from the meeting and said he was never due to attend.

He said that a ministerial reshuffle of his party colleagues who sit on the Executive had to be signed off at Stormont.

Mr Robinson said: "Some press have speculated that there has been a difficulty in relation to a meeting with the Prime Minister. No such problem exists."

On Tuesday night, Mr Dodds resigned as Minister for Finance and Personnel, to be replaced by Sammy Wilson.

Gregory Campbell stood down as Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister.

Edwin Poots is the new Environment Minister instead of Mr Wilson, and Nelson McCausland has become Culture Minister.

© Press Association
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1 Comments
talon Wise in Colorado wrote (1,058 days ago):
Is their any hope for the conversion of Gregory?
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