Sinn Fein decision on policing key to Stormont
Gene McKenna
27 December 2006
THE Irish and British Governments believe a Sinn Fein decision on policing must come in January if the Northern institutions are to be restored in March.
They are hopeful that Sinn Fein will soon announce the holding of a special Ard Fheis to make a decision on support for the PSNI.
It is understood that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern regards the recent meeting hbetween Sinn Fein and PSNI chief Hugh Orde as being of major importance.
The two Governments are also encouraged by the fact that Sinn Fein representatives have been playing a much greater role in policing committees at local level.
Mr Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair kept up contacts with both Sinn Fein and the DUP as intensive negotiations continued right up to Christmas.
The two leaders decided when they met in Brussels at the last EU Council meeting that they would continue to keep up the pressure for adherence to the agreed timetable.
Senior members of Sinn Fein met just before the Christmas period to consider calling the special Ard Fheis to address the party’s policy on policing.
But they made no decision and are to resume their deliberations in the next day or two.
In a statement, the party’s chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness, said progress had been made during intense discussions with Mr Blair and the British government.
A two-thirds majority of Sinn Fein’s National Executive is required to call such an Ard Fheis.
Sinn Fein support for the police has been set as a prerequisite for DUP power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
Northern Secretary Peter Hain said he and his officials had worked to tease out sensitive areas of policing policy until late last night.
Mr Hain had been striving to bridge the gaps between Sinn Fein and the DUP, and Mr Blair himself got involved by telephone in a detailed way with the main players.
But the two Governments believe that because of the timing factor involved, a Sinn Fein Ard Fheis must take place within the next month.
If that does not happen, an election cannot be triggered for the March 6 date already set.
The knock-on effect of that outcome would be that the Executive cannot get up and running on the March 26 date which has been planned for some time.
Target
If the target dates are to be met, the two Governments are adamant that Sinn Fein cannot drag out their consultation process on whether to support policing for much longer.
Mr Ahern and Mr Blair now want an early outcome on the power-sharing deal - set out as a priority by both leaders when they first got together to try to resolve the Northern situation a decade ago.
The Taoiseach will then be able to concentrate on domestic political issues in advance of the General Election.
And Mr Blair would be able to chalk up a major international achievement before he leaves Downing Street.
