McGuinness: N Ireland police impasse risks devolution
Northern Ireland’s political institutions are unsustainable if they are not based on equality, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said.
Mr McGuinness said the impasse over the devolution of policing and justice also could not go on.
He said he required a date for the devolution of the powers by Christmas, followed by action in the New Year.
He said he met First Minister Peter Robinson, and they agreed to write to MLAs about justice minister selection.
He said a date for devolving policing should be set before Christmas.
“I think the vast majority of people want to see policing and justice in the hands of local people,” he said.
A bill paving the way for the devolution of the powers in the future passed its final stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday.
It creates a justice department and allows a justice minister to be appointed with cross-community backing.
The DUP and Sinn Fein have been arguing for months over the issue, often referred to as the “last piece of the devolution jigsaw”.
The DUP leader has said policing devolution will only take place when there is sufficient community confidence while Sinn Fein wants the power transferred as soon as possible.
