Robinson demands details on policing package
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson was last night looking for further clarification from the Prime Minister about funding for the devolution of responsibility for policing and justice to the Stormont Executive.
The Democratic Unionist party leader and Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness emerged from another round of talks with Gordon Brown in Downing Street to announce they were going back for more talks this morning.
Mr Robinson said they would consider publishing the letter from Mr Brown in which he set out just what the Government would provide to complete the final stage of the devolution process.
He said the letter would be “better in the public arena” adding: “There needs to be some transparency about what we are doing.”
Confirming he still had questions to be answered by Mr Brown about the proposed deal, he said: “We have provided a list of issues to the Prime Minister for clarification and we are working through those issues.”
Some were “easy” and some more difficult, he said. But he added: “All of them I believe are capable of resolution.”
Earlier the Sinn Fein officer board met in Dublin and agreed to accept Mr Brown’s offer. Mr McGuinness carried the message to No 10 but told Mr Brown there would still need to be “further discussions”.
Speaking after the longer-than-expected Downing Street meeting Mr McGuinness said: “The issue of funding has now been conclusively dealt with in my view and I think it’s now a matter of urgency that we move and with all speed to ensure that the transfer of power of policing and justice takes place.”
He added: “What has to happen is all the participants to this process have to now deal with the logistical arrangements of how we carry that out.
“We intend to have discussions, Peter Robinson and I, with other party leaders back home about the funding arrangements.”
He described agreement on the funding package as a “tremendous achievement” and “momentous”.
Mr McGuinness added: “I think the challenge now is to press on, to make this happen as soon as possible.”
Earlier in Belfast members of the Stormont committee examining the devolution of policing powers demanded sight of the financial deal offered by Mr Brown.
The Assembly and Executive Review Committee called on Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness to release details without delay.
The SDLP representative on the committee, Alex Attwood, MLA, said it was unacceptable that Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness had briefed their own parties but had not yet informed the Assembly committee whose responsibility it was to look at the transfer of powers.
“I just don’t think that is a balanced and proper way to do business,” he said.
He added: “They should not be allowed to take this forward without our involvement.”
