Policing deal 'on the edge'

Published Wednesday, 03 February 2010

Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward has warned that efforts to reach a deal on policing and justice were "on the edge", as political focus switches from Hillsborough to Westminster.

After eight days of negotiations, Woodward told MPs at Wednesday's Northern Ireland Questions that with "good political will" there could still be a "reasonable" agreement.

But he warned that failure to achieve agreement would put much of the achievements of the peace process at risk.

Read Ken Reid's blog: Party time

No further talks have been scheduled between the DUP and Sinn Fein on Wednesday, amid mounting speculation that the outcome of the negotiations will depend on the next meeting of the DUP's assembly team.

On Tuesday, the DUP denied there was any split within the party ranks despite reports that 14 MLAs opposed the policing and justice deal put forward by Peter Robinson the day before.

"An essential agreement of the current discussions must be a consensus that can command community confidence", DUP's South Antrim MP William McCrea told the House of Commons.

"Without that community confidence, no matter what pressure is placed on me or my colleagues, the DUP will not be buying into any deal."

He said progress had been made but "more progress had to be done".

Mr Woodward replied: "Everyone must have confidence but of course confidence doesn't belong to any one community. One of the principles here is that it must indeed command support from everyone in Northern Ireland.

"The Assembly has been up and running for nearly three years. This business remains to be done, we believe the confidence is there, it is now time to summon leadership and courage and act."

Answering a question from the Tory chairman of the Northern Ireland Select Committee, Patrick Cormack, Mr Woodward warned:

"Patience is required, but equally we must be careful not to try people's patience to distraction.

"Unfair failure to make progress would not be rewarded, and I don't mean by any particular process now, but by the people of Northern Ireland.

"We have changed their lives by the peace process, we have secured it in the political process.
"It is right to make progress but we do indeed now sit on the edge."

Comments

6 Comments

Peter in Belfast wrote (840 days ago):

Mike: We NEED devolved power if we are to move forward. If we can't govern ourselves who in their right mind is going to invest here? I want it. I don't want to be ruled by London anymore. If the Welsh and Scots can do it why can't we? It reminds me of a child who won't leave his parents to go to school for the first time. Used to the good life. We need to grow up once and for all. No, direct rule is most certainly not the way forward and hopefully a thing of the past. But I agree that these local muppets in Stormont couldn't govern a room of babies never mind a country of adults.

JD in On the Ground wrote (841 days ago):

No harm, but why is there an inclination to blame both sides for the flaws in the DUP.

Mike in Belfast wrote (841 days ago):

Time to call it quits and call an election. Then we will see just what the people think of our useless local politicans. Maybe we should even have a referemdum to see if we actually want devolved power any more. Judging by the recent performance, we do not have mature politicians who are ready to take on the responsibility of power. Maybe try again in another 20 years when this lot are retired and we get some new blood into NI politics.

Jim in USA wrote (841 days ago):

Not only is Peter Robinson playing the Orange card, he's arrogant enough to play the Thatcher card: "of believing that the assertion of his own authority is more important than upholding democratic principles." But what else is new, the DUP where never in the business of sharing power with anyone outside their ideological circle.

Peter in Belfast wrote (841 days ago):

John: Very well said. Couldn't have put it better myself. Especially the Orange Order bit. Why are they sticking their noses in? They should be told to back off....politics is for all NI not just a privileged few. Those days are over. The world is watching and the world is most certainly NOT impressed.

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