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Northern Ireland policing and justice talks go down to wire
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen are leading talks aimed at saving the Northern Ireland power-sharing government
enlargePrime ministers Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen last night convened all-party talks at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast as part of their joint efforts to break the Northern Ireland political logjam.
They are believed to have presented a draft paper proposing the setting of an early deadline for devolving policing and justice powers to the Belfast Assembly. In addition new regulatory powers are suggested to deal with loyalist marches.
The paper was revealed at a plenary session attended by the five main Northern Ireland parties. The two premiers hope the proposals will bridge the gap between loyalists and republicans on policing and marching.
They headed negotiating teams from the British and Irish governments which spent the day locked in contacts with local parties, principally Peter Robinson's Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein. In recent weeks the parties have held lengthy direct talks but failed to reach agreement. The prospect of a collapse triggered the government intervention, with Mr Brown and Mr Cowen flying to Belfast.
Their lengthy negotiating sessions started on Monday, adjourned at 3am Tuesday, resumed six hours later and were looking to continue into last night. A government spokesman characterised the discussions as "hard going".
The timetable is designed to express the determination of both prime ministers to settle issues which have dragged on for months, poisoning the political atmosphere in Belfast.
The stated aim of all sides is to find a breakthrough to settle the vexed questions of how and when to transfer policing and justice powers from London to Belfast. This has recently become entwined with the equally vexed issue of how to regulate loyalist parades.
Yesterday British and Irish officials flitted between the two parties, testing ideas and probing for possible areas of compromise. A DUP minister said: "There are endless bits of paper."
The Northern Ireland Secretary, Sean Woodward, meanwhile described the talks as "a work in progress". Eventually the governments produced a draft document for the two sides to consider, and the two parties met face-to-face in late afternoon. Officials meanwhile kept in touch with smaller parties to keep them briefed.
In public, both Sinn Fein and the DUP played their cards close to their chests, with spokesmen making occasional appearances to make comments which tended to be non-confrontational, but noncommittal. With the two governments and the republicans keen to achieve the transfer of policing and justice as quickly as possible, it is likely that the centrepiece of any eventual deal will be the setting of a date for this to happen.
Achieving DUP consent for this will entail making some concessions to the party in terms of the technicalities of devolution and of parading regulation.
The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was in touch with Gordon Brown and others involved to stress American support for a breakthrough. The Prime Minister's spokeswoman said: "They discussed and took stock of the progress that's been made and the need to make an agreement."
She added: "The Prime Minister remains determined to make progress. Discussions with the parties continue to be frank, but there is a spirit of openness and a shared sense of the importance of working towards an agreement."
The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin, described the engagement between the parties as "constructive and positive", adding: "The governments are in listening mode, taking on board suggestions and ideas, as well as feedback on issues raised yesterday and this morning. So far, we're working issue-by-issue, party-by-party."
Mr Robinson said he wanted to see a positive outcome, declaring: "We are up for the job, we are resolving the outstanding issues. Policing and justice is a life-or-death issue, it is a sensitive issue, it is something that touches every member of our community."
The Sinn Fein minister Conor Murphy said republicans needed to secure a date for the transfer of policing and justice powers. He added: "We have delivered on our commitments."
Battling for Ulster's thin blue line
Q. Is the Irish peace process falling apart?
A. In terms of war and peace, no. Dissident republican groups commit occasional violent acts, but the major republican and loyalist groups have disarmed. Loyalists, led by the Democratic Unionist Party, are in government alongside Sinn Fein but there's little or no trust between them.
Q. What has brought Gordon Brown to Belfast, and what approach is he taking?
A. London, Dublin and Sinn Fein have been pressing for a devolution of policing and justice powers, but the Democratic Unionists say Protestants lack confidence in the system. Policing has become a battlefield for Sinn Fein and the loyalists. When the DUP said the transfer of policing would be expensive, Gordon Brown came up with a package of £800m to cover the costs. That carrot removed the cash issue. The stick is the prospect of Assembly elections, which for different reasons neither the DUP nor Sinn Fein want.
Q. Why are the DUP so keen to avoid an Assembly election?
A. In a word: Iris. The saga of Peter Robinson's wayward wife is reckoned to have alienated many DUP voters. The DUP fears its supporters would desert it in droves. Sinn Fein wants the transfer of policing powers, but would prefer to avoid the uncertainty of an election.
Q. What happens if these talks break down?
A. An election may not necessarily happen, since both London and Dublin would regard it as increasing the present instability. More rounds of talks would probably follow, perhaps accompanied by a suspension of the Assembly.
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patrick the south does not want this mess, they would still have irish dissidents who they dont want, also a large unionist population who dont want them, and a sinn fein party who by that time nobody would want.
Posted by liam | 29.01.10, 10:35 GMT
DUP - yet again an embarrassment to Unionism - any wonder the rest of the UK despairs. Sinn Fein, typical spit the dummy politics - we'll take our ball and go home - I'm sure the Southern Irish despair. Maybe this is SF stategy to force joint sovereignty. Either way, who would want us. The real politics of Health, Jobs, Education, Transport are lost because we all voted for a bunch of morons who are only worried about money, their electorate and covering up their past.
Joint rule will only lead to mass Unionist dissent and potential violence, taking us back 15 years and create a massive headache for both Govts. Come the elections, I urge everyone to think long and hard before casting a vote for the sectarian junkies of the 4 main parties. Will someone out there please give us an alternative.
Posted by Candidate-less | 27.01.10, 15:39 GMT
Very convenient this "crisis" for the two main parties - they can get back to pointing fingers at each other instead of the public pointing the fingers at them.
Posted by ElGordo | 27.01.10, 14:35 GMT
These polititians are ridiculous. Couple 100 K a year to prance around in front of cameras and tell everyone how important you are? What a joke.
Posted by Rich | 27.01.10, 14:29 GMT
Shut the assembly down for good and let London and Dublin run the place as a joint effort. In that way Britain can slowly withdraw itself from the mess, that is what they have wantewd to do since the sixties; Thatcher's belligerence notwithstanding. Now it seems that the DUP wants the same thing, they really are letting the Unionist people down, both at home and in the eyes of the world. Then,again it was the Unionist people who put them in power.
Posted by Patrick | 27.01.10, 14:27 GMT
Well done hg (job wise) the only thing I've seen in the paper to make me laugh today
Posted by ron54 | 27.01.10, 13:40 GMT
we are the FOOLS for lapping it up............
who put them in power ? we did....
who will do it again ? sad fact - we will again and again..........
we DESERVE to be treated like this for OUR stupidity.....
Posted by Ian Roberts | 27.01.10, 13:11 GMT
Who really wants the religious nuts in the DUP to get their hands on policing and justice? They'd be introducing stoning for adulterers - except of course if you're one of theirs and suffer from a mental illness!
Posted by Mike | 27.01.10, 12:59 GMT
The DUP, in trying to gain a few Orange votes from Jim Allister, have gambled the Assembly on the one position where Sinn Fein have little room to maneouvre. What imbeciles. And the truth is that the vast majority of unionist voters care not a jot about parades, particularly if they are proposed in areas where they are not wanted. DOH!!!!
Posted by Bongo | 27.01.10, 12:58 GMT
It's getting embarrassing. It's very easy to look in from the outside and say sort it out. But you're all adults. We elected you to do a job. Now do it.
Posted by Yip | 27.01.10, 12:53 GMT
The truth is that the northern statelet is not really sustainable in the medium to long term. If the assembly doesnt work there should be a change to the constitutional arrangement to allow joint rule from Dublin and London. Of course Dublin would also have to pick up half the costs of this arrangement. The north needs to be sorted once and for all. It is a constant drain on the British exchequer and a thorn in the side of the body politic of Ireland. So decisive measures need to be taken.
Posted by Terence | 27.01.10, 12:40 GMT
Is the whole thing not a little bit boring-apart from the amusing parades of the staring meerkats before the cameras.
Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 27.01.10, 11:56 GMT
I realise that it sticks in the throats of many people that former terrorists, whose aim was to de-stabilise NI and undermine our sovereignty and institutions are now in the position to control policing of the country. However, whilst their ultimate aim of a united Ireland remains, I believe they are now committed to making this country a better, safer place, knowing that a United Ireland can only be achieved through co-operation and never through coercion.
Devolution of powers may be a bitter pill for the DUP to swallow but they have to swallow it for the good of our country.
Posted by BM | 27.01.10, 10:46 GMT
What a load of nonsense. Why re-elect these throwbacks to this sham for democracy. Please, Gordon and Brian, close the assembly ring fence the money wasted at Stormont, spend it in Northern Ireland, under direct rule, in our primary schools and enterprise departments. Bring forward the policing budget and let the policing board spend it. Any powers not included in direct rule give to our local authorities. The assembly is an unnessary level of government. Why does 1.5m people need this talking (or not talking!) shop, the money can be better spent.
Posted by Mark | 27.01.10, 10:34 GMT
This is becoming boring now! How much of the tax payers money is being spent in keeping these fools up there in Hillsborough?
Poilicing and Justice should have been set up long ago, as it was agreed by ALL parties at St. Andrews, so the DUP need to stand by their commitments and start working for their already disgruntled electorate!!
Posted by Liam | 27.01.10, 10:08 GMT
Once again the Northern politicians go crying to Mummy Cowen and Daddy Brown. We vote for these people and look what we get, a bunch of children.
Most people in the north have no idea what devoution of policing powers mean, and most don't care.
All we care for is a decent job, good education for our children and the roads gritted occasionally.
What do we get? A power sharing government that doesn't know how to govern.
What type of economic policy do they give us? Only to run to London begging for money.
What type of educaton policy do we have? Only one that causes further devision.
As for gritting the roads, I give up.
'Mummy, he's calling me names'.
Posted by FoolMeOnce | 27.01.10, 08:22 GMT
the reality is half of this very small country have no interest in stormnont and watching a bunch of overpaid baffons telling us how important they are to the people,,,,mlas have always told us how hard they work for the people ,,,nonsense,,iris robinson held 3 positions (job wise) a counciler,,mla and mp and still had time for an affair
Posted by hg | 27.01.10, 06:23 GMT
Parades issue is simple, allow one big parade in Belfast or ban them all together as they are as we all know sectarian marches. If no movement on this issue is resolved then give us joint Dublin london rule. Once this is achieved them London will loosen their grip slowly but surely moving us closer to our destiney which is a reunited Ireland,
Posted by sean from co down Ireland | 27.01.10, 05:54 GMT