NEGOTIATIONS OVER the devolution of policing and justice moved closer to resolution last night after Sinn Féin acceptance and a positive DUP assessment of the financial offer from the British prime minister to facilitate the transfer of these powers.
First Minister Peter Robinson and the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness met Gordon Brown in Downing Street again yesterday evening. Mr McGuinness told Mr Brown that a Sinn Féin meeting earlier yesterday in Dublin had formally endorsed the financial package on policing.
Mr Robinson, speaking outside Downing Street, welcomed the package but said there were still a number of issues that required clarification. He said that these were technical and complicated but were all capable of resolution.
The First Minister said details of the package, which are understood to contain a commitment to build the police training college at Cookstown, Co Tyrone, should be made public.
Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness are due to meet Mr Brown again today – their fifth meeting since Monday week – to discuss the financial problems of the Presbyterian Mutual Society.
The outstanding issues relating to the financial package are also likely to be raised at this meeting.
While the financial element of the devolution of policing and justice powers appears close to conclusion, Mr Robinson is still seeking assurances that David Cameron, if the Tories win the British general election which must be held by early June, will honour these commitments.
He is also due to consult, particularly with the unionist community, on whether there is sufficient confidence for creating a Northern Ireland department of justice.
On Monday night Mr Robinson indicated his satisfaction with the Brown package. “The funding offer from the prime minister which we received goes beyond anything on offer previously,” he told the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust in Belfast.
“By holding our nerve we have a package today which is hundreds of millions of pounds higher than it was only a week ago,” he added.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, speaking after a meeting in Dublin accepted the package, said: “Our approach to this negotiation has been twofold. On one hand to secure an adequate financial package for a quality frontline, civic policing service and a fair and effective justice system; and, on the other, ensuring that existing budgets for health, education and the other departments would not be affected by transfer.
“The process to transfer powers should now be completed quickly,” he added.