THE DUP was not laying down “prerequisites” over how and when it would sign up to the transfer of policing and justice powers when First Minister Peter Robinson this week presented the British prime minister with a special eight-page dossier, according to DUP minister Arlene Foster.
As Mr Robinson and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness meet Gordon Brown again today in Downing Street – the sixth meeting in three weeks – the comments from Ms Foster appeared to calm an issue that could have further soured relationships between the DUP and Sinn Féin.
At Stormont on Monday Mr Robinson issued Mr Brown with an eight-page dossier of “confidence building measures” that he indicated were required to smooth the devolution of policing and justice. This appeared to complicate the negotiation process as previously Mr Robinson had stated that just two issues remained to be resolved: public confidence for such a move and adequate funding for policing and justice.
This again raised nationalist suspicions that the DUP was intent on prolonging the justice and policing issue beyond the British general election, which must be held by early June at the latest – a strategy that would be virtually certain to trigger a political crisis.
The widening concern about the deterioration in the relationship between the First Minister and Deputy First Minister was reflected in the decision by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin to travel to London yesterday to be briefed on the situation by Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward.
After the meeting Mr Martin said a deal must be reached quickly, adding that the involvement of Mr Brown was significant. ‘‘I dont think he would be involved if it wasnt for real, he said. Mr Martin said both governments were ‘‘in accord that it is important that there is progress on devolution. It is important in underpinning stability.’’
The dossier issues raised by Mr Robinson – which include a request for the retention of the police full-time reserve, which is being phased out under the 1999 Patten proposals on police reform – are sensitive in some areas and appear to have the potential to sow further discord between Sinn Féin and the DUP.
Another of the demands is that retired and some serving police officers and British soldiers should be allowed to retain their personal protection weapons due in particular to the dissident republican threat. The dossier includes a demand that the Parades Commission be disbanded.
“All the matters in the eight-page document relate to policing and justice matters,” said Mr Robinson on Monday. “I would hope that when it is published it will be published by the prime minister as the terms of agreement,” he added. He was asked how the Executive could properly function when rather than the First Minister and Deputy First Minister acting jointly to get a deal that Mr Robinson appeared to be operating on two negotiating fronts. Mr Robinson said on Monday he was “elected by the people to pursue the manifesto commitments that I have given” as DUP leader.
Yesterday morning Sinn Féin Assembly group leader John O’Dowd issued a statement saying that the DUP “wish list” had no place in the negotiations.
He later appeared on BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan programme with DUP economy minister Arlene Foster, who said the dossier matters were not “prerequisites” for a deal on policing and justice. Mr O’Dowd said he welcomed Ms Foster’s “clarification” because the dossier matter had “clouded the negotiations” and brought a new dimension to them at a very advanced stage”.
