Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has stated he will meet PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde if it will help speed up the resolution of difficulties that are blocking the creation of a powersharing government in Northern Ireland.
Mr Adams has expressed confidence that policing and other outstanding matters can be resolved. However, he said he will not call an ardfheis on policing until issues such as when policing and justice powers are devolved to the Northern Executive are settled.
"Crucially we need local accountability and control of our policing and justice structures. We need to take control of policing and justice away from London," he said in the edition of the republican paper An Phoblacht out today.
"I am committed to calling a meeting of the Sinn Féin ardchomhairle immediately when these issues are resolved. This ardchomhairle meeting will be for the purpose of convening a special ardfheis within the timeframe set out at St Andrews," he added.
"However, let me be equally clear that I will not go to the ardchomhairle to seek a special ardfheis unless I have the basis to do so," Mr Adams emphasised.
Mr Adams said in order to solve outstanding issues Sinn Féin would intensify its contact with the British government. "We are prepared to meet with the PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde on issues which fall within his remit and we will sit down with the DUP and other parties at any time to agree other issues," he said.
Mr Adams met Sir Hugh Orde at Downing Street two years ago with British prime minister Tony Blair, but this is the first time he has publicly indicated willingness to initiate a meeting with the chief constable. The 2004 meeting was chiefly to discuss British army demilitarisation, Mr Adams said at the time.
Mr Adams said in An Phoblacht that he was "determined to make clear to the widest cross-section of national public opinion and especially unionist people" that he wanted all remaining issues dealt with as quickly as possible and "within the timeframe set out at St Andrews".
"If the two governments and the other parties are of the same mind then there is no reason why this cannot happen," he added.
Mr Adams said that the argument put by some DUP politicians that policing could not be devolved for "several political lifetimes" was "unsustainable".
"Policing and justice are vital, fundamental issues of concern for every citizen. The Assembly and Executive should have the same rights in respect of these matters as for health and education and environment and so on. It makes sense. I believe we can find agreement on this," he added.
