Unionist fury at PM’s ‘transfer powers’ call
DUP: We will not be forced to set a date
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
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Unionists have angrily denounced Gordon Brown’s blunt insistence that they must “set the date” for the switch of devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly.
In pointed remarks directed primarily at the DUP, the Prime Minister said the transfer of the powers from London would show the world that stability in Northern Ireland is here to stay.
On his brief visit to Belfast, Mr Brown stopped short of suggesting a new deadline, four months after the ‘target date’ in the St Andrews Agreement, but made clear further delay would be “worse than a setback.”
In stark terms, he warned: “it would put at risk everything that has been achieved by the work and sacrifice of the past decade and more.”
But DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said his party would not be bullied or pushed around by Prime Ministers or other parties.
“It is not a matter of dates it is a matter of there being sufficient confidence to support the move. Such a level of confidence is not present in the unionist community. Indeed, the lack of Executive meetings has only served to further undermine confidence in the process,” the Finance Minister said.
And accusing the PM of “dancing to Sinn Fein’s tune”, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said the failure of Mr Brown to deal with the three-month gap in Executive meetings was “the elephant in the room” during his speech.
“There was a lack of balance in his remarks. If I was Sinn Fein I would pretty content and in the private session I asked directly if there was a deal between Her Majesty’s Government and Sinn Fein from the St Andrews talks, but did not get an answer,” the Employment Minister added.
Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said Mr Brown had proposed the handover of policing and justice to a government which included “unreconstructed terrorists”.
Sinn Fein made no comment but SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: “It is a pity that the unnecessary political uncertainty created by Sinn Fein and the DUP became such a focus of the Prime Minister’s visit. Many in the community would have preferred this opportunity to be used to more convincingly address the economic challenges which are deepening and the public stress which is rising along with unbearable price hikes.”
Mr Brown promised his Government “stands ready” to ensure a “smooth transition” for the switch of justice and policing responsibility.
“So now leaders here in Northern Ireland must reach agreement between themselves and set the date for the transfer of policing and justice from the Secretary of State to a Justice Minister, in and of Northern Ireland,” he said.
Mr Brown asked how the Assembly could tackle common criminality, low level crime and youth disorder “when you are responsible for only some of the levers for change (and) when you have responsibility for education and health and social development but have to rely on Westminster for policing and justice?”
Mr Brown reiterated his view, following the recent Independent Monitoring Commission report, which he said made clear the IRA army council is “redundant”.
With just 24 hours before the next scheduled session of the power-sharing Executive is due to take place, Mr Brown made no direct mention of the almost three-month gap between meetings but said the clearest sign that the “politics of peaceful change” are winning, was an Assembly “working together, meeting together, fulfilling all its functions”.
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Brian and Gearoid, while the people of Northern Ireland are so divided, how can you expect Ireland to ever be united. Take away the Border and just transfer the hatred, anger, disenfranchisement to another jurisdiction. The Republic does not want 1 million seriously hacked off British citizens living within its borders. Time to wake up and realise that Ireland has never been united and never can be. Of course with the right kind of bribery from the corrupt Southern regime, I may be tempted to switch allegiance.
Posted by Petesy | 18.09.08, 17:31 GMT
Brian wrote "Dublin & London will take back governance and then gradually London will give over control to Dublin and by 2016 we will have a united Ireland at last."
Bless your cotton socks, so, so naive.
Posted by mickey | 18.09.08, 15:49 GMT
I notice the SDLP aren't backing Sinn fein over the devolving of Policing and justice I hope the nationalist people stop voting for these people
Posted by Ciaran | 18.09.08, 09:23 GMT
for all that is holy why in heaven,s name can the so called leaders there put their diifference aside and work for the the people they were elected for. Has there not been enough sadness in their lifetimes i have lived here in CANADA 50 odd yrs people ask what is the matter with ye people . GERARD MORGAN
Posted by GERARD MORGAN | 18.09.08, 02:37 GMT
With reference to Dodds statement that the Dup will not be bullied or pushed around by Prime Ministers or anybody else, you already are. Does anybody believe that they share government with Nationalists out of the goodness of their hearts? They were given an ultimatim, share power or else, the money stops and London and Dublin take over. If that is not being pushed around and bullied, I don,t know what is.
Posted by Sonny Bradley | 17.09.08, 23:41 GMT
Direct Rule had to be imposed because nobody could trust the Northern Ireland biased Policing Auhority.
If the Nationalists can have confidence in a Northern Ireland Police Force the only thing the Unionists could be worried about would be the Unionists final LOSS of the POWER they have held over Northern Ireland for far far too long.
Posted by Margaret | 17.09.08, 23:40 GMT
Now I'm totally confused.Was'nt there an article in this very paper this week that gave the results of a recent poll stating that there were 56 percent of those polled believed it was time to devolve policing. If the redundant IRA 'army council' promises not to talk to each other,or cross the street if they saw one another,Would that be enough for the DUP or would they just find another excuse.
Then theres the SDLP who wants us to give up mandatory coalition.What are they thinking.I can almost hear their support going down the toilet. Only in Northern Ireland. God help you all,because your political representatives don't seem to have a clue.
Posted by PD Whistle | 17.09.08, 23:22 GMT
To Brian who thinks that by 2016 there will be a 'united Ireland at last' In the words of the 'big man' NEVER NEVER NEVER
Posted by Cannuck Col | 17.09.08, 22:53 GMT
The DUP and Sinn Feinn are two extreme parties and it dosen't surprise me at all that things are falling apart up in Stormont. If none of the Sinner's ministers show up for this meeting on Thursday and all of the DUP ones do then that sends out a clear message to everyone it's not working. Sinn Fein want it all their own way and both parties are far too politically immature to negotiate and compromise a way forward. They should be focusing on the common everyday issues that effect most people in the province and not this cultural & tribalism nonsense like the Irish Language and the Maze stadium etc etc. The more I see of our MLA's, the more I believe our wee country would be better and more cheaply governed by chimpanzee's from Belfast zoo !
Posted by LINDA | 17.09.08, 22:06 GMT
Stormont is now over.
Dublin & London will take back governance and then gradually London will give over control to Dublin and by 2016 we will have a united Ireland at last.
Posted by Brian | 17.09.08, 19:39 GMT
Worrying times for unionist parties - they made a deal that they had no real ability or intention to honour. And now stand exposed (yet again!!)as the No-men of politics here.
Only this time things are different - the constitutional staus of the six counties has been irreversibly altered.
St Andrews can either be implemented in full - including justice powers - or we can have Joint Authority here with a ful role for the Dublin government. Mr Paisley knew this and that's why he encouraged acceptance by the DUP
Posted by gearoid | 17.09.08, 16:52 GMT
anybody else fed up with irish politics? just when we think they are getting somewhere yet another unforseen hurdle pops up! we are a laughing stock! the politicians on both sides should put their egos aside and get round to forming a government that will do n ireland justice if they cant do that,resign and let someone else do it!
Posted by steve | 17.09.08, 15:12 GMT
Given the SDLP's ambiguous attitude to the police/army over the last 30 years (after it betrayed Gerry Fitt and abandoned socialism for nationalism) I hardly think they are in a position to preside over justice. I have never found them a trustworthy party. At least with Sinn Fein, what you saw was what you got even if you didn't agree with any of their policies. With the SDLP it is/was all smoke and mirrors.
The Alliance Party - absolute impartiality (and I would be a Unionist).
Posted by Petesy | 17.09.08, 14:39 GMT
OK - devolve Justice and allocate the minister post to SDLP or Alliance. Problem solved? Or is the problem the DUP and it's lack of leadership direction?
Nigel Dodds said - “It is not a matter of dates it is a matter of there being sufficient confidence to support the move. Such a level of confidence is not present in the unionist community."
Nigel Dodds (and the DUP leadership) must tell the unionist community what is best for it. That is his role as a leader of the unionist community.
To be honest – all this “fury” business is not the role of an MLA(or MP). “Fury” is normally a reaction from being personally insulted and should not be the response pf any politician. Any MLA who is furious is in my opinion far too emotionally bound into this devolution process to be an impartial MLA and should thus resign. I say to the DUP stop being so extremist and emotional – be more professional!
Posted by John | 17.09.08, 13:07 GMT