Alliance Won't Take Policing Ministry

Despite optimism from a senior Sinn Féin politician - who has insisted that his party and the DUP have reached an agreement on the contentious issue of the devolution of policing - one preferred option of a Policing and Justice Minister drawn from the middle ground Alliance Party has been dismissed out-of-hand.

Speaking today at the Stormont Assembly (pictured), Alliance Leader David Ford said there were much more important 'real political' issues - such as the 11+ debate and the imposition of water charges - that should take priority.

Urging that the NI Executive "gets on with its job" instead of playing party politics he gave a categorical 'No' to any idea that his party would be filling the void on policing matters.

That leaves a 'Plan B' which would see a Minister drawn from either the Ulster Unionist or the SDLP parties - as both Sinn Féin and the DUP say they won't nominate anyone for the new Ministry role.

However, Sinn Féin Policing Spokesman, MLA, Gerry Kelly said that agreement had been reached on "the model to which policing and justice powers would be transferred" - without, so far, any sign of contradiction from the DUP - which may mean that an agreement has indeed been brokered.

While there has been no comment from either the DUP itself, or the First Minister and DUP Leader, Peter Robinson, their silence is being seen as tacit approval.

"The transfer of powers on policing and justice should have happened by May," Junior Minister, Gerry Kelly said, earlier today.

"Sinn Féin wants to see it happen in the short time ahead.

"We have been involved in a series of meetings with the DUP on this issue and we have agreed with the DUP that powers would be transferred to a single department, with a single Minister elected by cross community support and that initially neither ourselves nor the DUP would take on that Ministry.

"This is a significant development," he insisted, noting that an all-party committee identified the main issue to be resolved as the model and has insisted that it has now been agreed.

"We have now asked the Assembly and Executive Review Committee to carry out a piece of work within a framework set out by Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister.

"This should be completed speedily," he said.

(BMcC)