Robinson Hints At Alliance Justice Role

First Minister Peter Robinson is backing only one person for the role of policing and justice minister, he has said.

Mr Robinson made the announcement as he prepared to present the Stormont Executive with a Bill that will lay the foundations for further devolved powers.

However, the DUP leader has refused to name his preferred candidate for the new ministerial portfolio, despite widespread speculation that the post will go to Alliance leader David Ford, (pictured).

Mr Robinson said he has not yet discussed the matter with the undisclosed MLA.

Following a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in London yesterday, Mr Robinson said: "I would hope that by Thursday we are in a position to bring the three clause Bill to our Executive colleagues to let them see and that then allows it to come to the Assembly in September."

Mr Robinson described the Bill as an "enabling power", which will allow a justice department to be set up.

"It doesn't do anything in terms of devolving policing and justice," he said.

"I think it is fairly obvious that when I put forward a member of the Ulster Unionists to be the Justice Minister that Sinn Fein are going to veto it and when they put forward a member of the SDLP I’m going to veto it, and we end up with a member of the Alliance party.

"You know that, I know that but nobody seems to want to say it. I could do it today - identify who it might be - but it doesn’t bring us any further forward in terms of when policing and justice might happen."

Mr Robinson's potential veto over a possible SDLP minister has angered the party's supporters, who claim - under the terms of the Agreement's power sharing rules - the Executive seat is theirs.

The First and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, will meet with Mr Brown again later this month.

(PR/JM)