Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Survey shows population backs devolution
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Most people support devolving policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland within the next year, a government survey has revealed..
With Prime Minister Gordon Brown arriving in Belfast today for talks with local politicians, new polling showed 58% backed handing down security powers from Westminster.
That is a key demand of Sinn Fein, which has been refusing to attend ministerial Executive meetings in protest at alleged lack of progress.
There have been fears power-sharing could collapse if a backlog stretching to June isn't tackled on Thursday.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said: ``For the third time the polls show that the people of Northern Ireland, from across the communities, are devolutionists.
``They want to see policing and justice powers transferred from Westminster to Stormont. They want to see the process of devolution, which they voted for in March 2007, completed.''
Mr Woodward's Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has consistently pressed for the move, even though a deadline of last May was missed.
- Text Size
No Justice. No Investment!
Posted by Brian | 17.09.08, 23:26 GMT