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Peter Robinson 'struggling to sell Northern Ireland policing deal to DUP'
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
enlargeNegotiations over a devolution deal continued into the early hours amid growing indications that DUP leader Peter Robinson was struggling to sell policing and justice proposals to members of his own party.
Sinn Fein and DUP teams were again meeting at Hillsborough overnight after the emergence of signs of last-minute problems which prevented a return visit yesterday by Premiers Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen.
There were reports of unease within DUP ranks and indications that some of the party's Assembly team has voiced disquiet about aspects of the agreement.
Remaining issues were said to centre on when revised mechanisms for dealing with parades might come into effect — apparently not in time for this year's marching season — and how a new Department of Justice will work. There were also indications of concerns that promises over how the wider party would be involved in consultations have not yet been met.
Mr Robinson, however, who reportedly met his MLAs one-by-one along with Acting First Minister Arlene Foster, was said to be confident the negotiations could be closed.
While their frustration continued, Sinn Fein appeared fairly relaxed at any 11th-hour difficulties.
The Assembly parties had been set to seal the deal to make local control over police and the legal system a reality — just after their 1,000th day in office since devolution returned.
The wraps were expected to come off a package of proposals, including a streamlined procedure on parades to prevent contentious marches bringing violence to flashpoint areas and destabilising the administration.
Prime Ministers Brown and Cowen were said to be on stand-by to fly back to Ulster to herald an historic handover of powers from Westminster, with a Stormont administration responsible for law and order for the first time in almost 40 years.
Mr Robinson was last night locked into “clarification” talks with Secretary of State Shaun Woodward and Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin at Hillsborough. Now stood down as First Minister for three weeks, Mr Robinson emerged from a party meeting shortly after teatime flanked by his predecessor Ian Paisley, party hardliner Gregory Campbell and his deputy leader Nigel Dodds, who is seen as a pivotal figure in bringing party sceptics over the line to accept a deal.
Mr Robinson said a number of issues remained to be resolved which he hoped could be achieved “with all due diligence”.
Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said a number of issues still had to be resolved but the party was confident of reaching a deal. “There are no sticking points — we are close to conclusion,” he said.
First Minister Questions at the Northern Ireland Assembly was postponed as speculation mounted that a deal on policing and justice powers was close.
At least preliminary arrangements for Mr Brown to travel back to Belfast were inadvertently revealed in the House of Commons. It also emerged Mr Cowen had cancelled a trip to Madrid.
In London Foreign Secretary David Miliband let it slip in Parliament that Mr Brown had been en route and then postponed travel plans for Belfast.
Asked by MPs where the PM was, Mr Miliband said: “He's in Northern Ireland actually.” Then he corrected his comments after being handed a note.
The ongoing talks also meant First Ministers Question Time in the Assembly was called off.
New SDLP MLA Conall McDevitt said it was 1001 days since the current DUP and Sinn Fein-dominated Executive began, yet it had achieved less than its predecessor, primarily run by his party and Ulster Unionists, in 750 days.
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Comments
39 Comments
Stve What the majority of residents of Northern Ireland want is for these overpaid idots to stop fighting with each other and get down to doing some paid work foa change for those who elected them, and can de elect them again.
As for the DUP, this is the same party whose ex-leader is being reshown to us shouting "Never Never never" and telling the electorate he would never sit with terrorists in power. Well that leopard changed his spots.
Posted by paul | 03.02.10, 16:02 GMT
Once and for all, stve.
Democracy is -
1. government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
2. a state having such a form of government.
3. a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges.
4. political or social equality; democratic spirit.
5. the common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class.
Posted by Ulysses32 | 03.02.10, 10:55 GMT
you all forget that the majority of unionists do not want to share pwoer with terrorists, thats why they voted for the dup, as they said 'a mandatory coalition is out of the question'
This is the position that we want maintained.
Posted by stve | 03.02.10, 09:28 GMT
selling any 21st century idea to a bunch of backward seventeenth century hillbillies is going to be a slight challenge.
Posted by Seymour Bunting | 02.02.10, 21:40 GMT
The "confidence" that the DUP is talking about - has it not got more to do with the lack of confidence in the community at large - can either of these two parties (DUP and SF) cope with Policing and Justice? Heaven help us when they get their hands on these two important areas of government! I tell you what fellas, have a go at sorting out the 11+ and if you make a decent fist of it, we will let you have a go at policing and justice.
Posted by Pat | 02.02.10, 20:07 GMT
MC, Do you understand anything about orange culture in Northern Ireland ?
Posted by Alex | 02.02.10, 20:01 GMT
As a prodestant from East Belfast I would like to express my disgust on the way the DUP are holding up the peace process to allow a few what everyone know are sectarian marched to take place. I work for the civil service of NI with people from all walks of life and the orange order do not speak for all prodestants in fact I would say that the majority of prodestants I know think that the whole parades issue is an embarresment to our christian relegion. I am beleive that if we can't control our own destiny then maybe it is time for joint Dublin, London rule, after all as a civil servant on £15,000 per year trying to make ends meet, if we had Dublin rule and a united Ireland I would be on 30,000 euro per year doing the same job. As well as that people on benifit here receiving £64.30 per week would be in recept of 200 euro per week. A big differance. To the DUP and the slinter group ie the TUV forget your politics of division and lets move forwood as one. good luck to Ireland in Rugby
Posted by Stuart East Belfast Prod | 02.02.10, 18:54 GMT
Ever since its inception, the Orange Order has been making very significant contributions to policing and justice. To learn more about that contribution go to the
OrangeCitadel.blogspot.com
Posted by Peter | 02.02.10, 18:01 GMT
Ok here is the solution to the parades issue but first lets look at the issue:
1. The Orange men/women want to walk along a road.
2. The residents of same road do not want to see them nor hear them
Solution:
1. From previous years determine the total monetary cost to the taxpayer to control the parade, lets say 10 million.
2. Determine the number of households in the immediated affected area.
3. Build a "temporary tunnel/well insulated" along said road. Please note: the Orange men/women only want to walk along the road, they will neither be seen nor heard.
4. Divide the 10 million equally and distribute to the households along affected road to spend as they please.
Think about it the parade will be over and done with in 10 minutes and the households will be spending the money duly donated to them by the very taxpayers/Orange men,women who are doing all the marching.
Posted by Mr Fixit | 02.02.10, 17:29 GMT
Here's how to get a deal in 2 hours - tell the MLAs that if Stormont fails then all salaries stop with it!!
Posted by Ian | 02.02.10, 17:24 GMT
mc, I dont agree with marching on a day through an area where some atrocity has happened, but there should be some tolerance from each side, otherwise we just go around in circles and people just get further entrenched.
The likes of garvaghy is a manufactured and exaggerated problem which the OO are prepared to discuss but now the rresidents wont talk! This is a WW1 parade, nothing else.
Mr Bishop, I wouldn't class paisley as a terrorist, but I also wouldn't want him running the country either with his bible bashers.
Posted by sjc | 02.02.10, 15:59 GMT
It is hard to believe that the future of NI is in the handes of the OO and where they can march, Mr Robinson is not so worried about the future of NI but if he will still have a job if he is not able to keep the OO happy.
The big picture here is that 90% of the people in NI want to move on and build a better life for there families so who really cares about where the OO marches.
Posted by sean | 02.02.10, 15:47 GMT
There will come a time in NI when none of our politicians will have been members of illegal organisations or invaded Clontibret or started resistance movements or...etc
The sooner that day comes for NI the better. People need to remember the past. Not be enslaved by it.
Posted by PC | 02.02.10, 15:02 GMT
Ulysses 32 - for once you write something sensible.
MC - the BotBoyne may have involved killing Catholics but Williams Army had the backing of the Pope and the wider Catholic hierarchy at the time.
Don King - the Masonic control everything.
As a moderate Unionist I am not gonna be held to ransom over Orange marches. Given the mess made of Education, Health, and Social Development, I have no faith in Policing and Justice being any better. Forget P&J until the rest is sorted
Posted by dis-illusioned | 02.02.10, 14:56 GMT
What a waste of public money. The rest of the world is bored with this theatrical display. It would be nice to have a local assembly dealing with bread and butter issues instead of listening to the same old historic rhetoric. If the DUP cannot make it, stand aside, i.e. resign your seats, give up your expenses etc., and let the public make the decision for you. Time for statesmen to stand up.
Posted by Herb | 02.02.10, 14:55 GMT
gregory campbell is the stumbling block here, he should pack it in and go away.
Posted by jim | 02.02.10, 14:49 GMT
Sinn Fein are starting to look weak here. They have put down deadlines and dates and have allowed Unionism to ignore and walk right through the dates. The fact is that at least 50% of Unionism doesn't want to share power with Catholics and the 2 governments should now act. There must be immediate joint authority with the UN and EU conferring an international conference for political and economic reunification of the island.
The North is a total political failure and long term stability will only come with one government on the island. The UN will probably have to police this for a while but we could live with that. It is a disgrace and total outrage that a medieval sectarian organisation like the Orange Order can hold the rest of us to ransom.
Posted by S.B. | 02.02.10, 14:44 GMT
Oh look the Handwringers have come out to play
Posted by Jim | 02.02.10, 14:35 GMT
The parades issue with the residents groups were stage managed by Sein Fein, to add to these problems in the first place. The Dup will always want the marches through so-called catholic areas. That is why they can't agree.
What politicians go crying to other countries all the time? Our politicians are useless. If there is ever proper agreement, it was all done by the careful negotiations of the British and Irish ministers, not the home-grown ones.
Posted by Jomarco | 02.02.10, 14:34 GMT
If Sein Fein and the DUP solve the parades issue then I believe in miracles. If they can agree on the parades issue, then every problem in life can be solved.
Posted by Jomarco | 02.02.10, 14:26 GMT
39 Comments