Policing and justice review criticised
Irish News
07/01/09
A Stormont review of the policing and justice issue has left no-one any the wiser as to when powers will be devolved, the SDLP claimed yesterday.
Fundamental questions regarding devolution remain unanswered six months after the first and deputy first ministers asked an assembly committee to examine unresolved matters, West Belfast assembly member Alex Attwood said.
He made his comments as the Assembly and Executive Review Committee finalised its first report on the transfer of security powers from
Westminster
Mr Attwood, pictured, who is a member of the committee, criticised the decision of his DUP and Sinn Fein counterparts to park certain contentious issues until a later date.
Matters such as the specific status and powers of any future justice minister were meant to be dealt with in the first phase of the committee’s work programme but DUP and Sinn Fein members yesterday voted to defer those decisions for their second report.
In November Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness agreed a series of steps to bring about devolution – a deal that brought an end to the five-month stand-off in the executive.
It involved a public consultation to gauge opinion on devolution and a requirement for the new minister to be elected on the basis of cross-community support until at least 2012.
It is envisaged that the portfolio could be offered to the Alliance Party.
Mr Attwood said the report of the committee had not addressed major issues around devolution.
He also said there still had been no indication as to when devolution would take place.
“Ultimately no-one is any the wiser, two months after Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson delivered their tablets of stone on justice devolution and a full six months after the first minister and deputy first minister had their first stab at agreeing a date,” Mr Attwood said.
“Devolution of justice should not be delayed a day longer.”
However, DUP committee chairman Jimmy Spratt said many of the main issues had been dealt with.
“This is our first report on this issue and work is ongoing,” the South Belfast MLA said.
“We will look again at the outstanding issues when we begin work on the second phase of our work next week.”
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands