The British and Irish governments' timetable for Stormont devolution by March 26th is under increasing doubt with agreement still being sought over the policing and justice matters. Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor, reports.
Sinn Féin had a week of intensive contacts with senior British officials concerning the shape and timetable for a Northern Ireland justice department. However, it all ended without setting in train the series of events to change its stance on support for the PSNI.
Without such a move, it is unlikely a March election to a new Assembly will be called at the end of January by Northern Secretary Peter Hain.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has made clear he cannot call an ardchomhairle meeting to discuss policing without a strictly timetabled proposal from the British government.
Sinn Féin failure to back the PSNI would mean the two governments' push for devolution by March 26th is in serious trouble.
Key DUP figures dug their heels in yesterday over the question of powersharing with republicans.
South Antrim MP William McCrea and North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds said in separate statements yesterday there could be no question of restoring Stormont without republican backing for the police.
"It is important to tell the [ British] government that policing is a major hurdle that republicans must deliver on but there are several other issues equally important that will test their sincerity," said the Rev McCrea who warned the March deadline was becoming increasingly difficult to meet.
Mr Dodds went further, claiming that a statement of intent from Mr Hain to have justice devolved by May 2008 was meaningless.
"The Secretary of State may speculate and pontificate all he likes about the timing of the devolution of policing and justice but thankfully he does not have the final say," he claimed.
Mr Hain's target date, the nearest thing there is to a timetable as demanded by republicans, was "entirely one set by government", he said.
"It has never been agreed by the DUP nor will it be.
"Such a timetable is a republican demand only.
"No other party ever made this a precondition for doing the right thing on policing and justice," he added.
The Irish Times understands that Mr Hain has put forward to republicans a proposal that a future justice minister be appointed on the basis of a weighted majority cross-community vote of the Assembly.
This proposal, which is similar to a new plan put forward by the DUP last week, is being debated internally by the party before any calling of an ardchomhairle is considered.
If enacted it would mean that Sinn Féin would be unlikely to secure cross-community support in the Assembly for the appointment of one of its nominees for justice minister.
A move by Sinn Féin to change its position on the PSNI without a guaranteed timetable for devolution would signal a vital shift on its position declared one week ago.
Policing spokesman Gerry Kelly said last Saturday his party would consider any model for a justice department as long as it was linked to a clear timetable.
Calling a party meeting to review support for the PSNI could be interpreted as republicans jumping first before a stonewalling DUP, and could be a difficult step for Sinn Féin.
The SDLP said last night it was wary of the weighted majority proposal, believing that such a proposal may be retained after the appointment of a minister and used to remove that minister if the DUP wished.
One political source suggested last night that Sinn Féin could call an ardchomhairle imminently to discuss ratification of a series of party candidate selections rather than policing.
Such a move would give an impression of movement while retaining Sinn Féin's position on the PSNI.
A British source said last night efforts to reach agreement with Sinn Féin and the DUP would continue but there was no plan for an early announcement.