SINN FÉIN has hinted it could pull out of the Northern Executive and Assembly if the Democratic Unionist Party delays the transfer of policing and justice powers until after the British general election scheduled for early June at the latest.
The barely-veiled Sinn Féin warning came as Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward met in London yesterday evening to discuss growing tensions between the DUP and Sinn Féin.
The setting by First Minister Peter Robinson of what the British and Irish governments and Sinn Féin view as a new precondition has caused political concern. Mr Robinson has called for the abolition of the Parades Commission to help facilitate the devolution of justice, which triggered a flurry of activity involving Mr Martin and Mr Woodward and senior British and Irish officials over recent days.
Sinn Féin, in yesterday’s edition of its weekly newspaper An Phoblacht, accused the DUP and also the Northern Ireland Office of “considering” pushing back the transfer of policing powers to beyond the Westminster elections.
Sinn Féin chairman Declan Kearney indicated that if the DUP pursued such a strategy, then Sinn Féin could pull out of the Executive and Assembly, precipitating Assembly elections. “If the DUP can’t do partnership and equality, then it won’t be doing government either,” said Mr Kearney.
While Mr Woodward has indicated he is anxious that Mr Robinson move quickly on policing and justice, Mr Kearney accused the British government and Mr Robinson of “playing fast and loose” with the issue. “The DUP’s and British government’s short-term expediency has all the potential to push this impasse into complete free-fall – they still aren’t learning the political lessons,” he said.
“Their introduction of the parades precondition may not necessarily mean they are opposed to the transfer of powers . . . although it might. But it demonstrates they are considering the reckless scenario of pushing transfer of powers beyond next year’s Westminster election. And the DUP may still plan to raise new and more preconditions,” he added.
Mr Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness won a generous package worth up to £1 billion (€1.12 billion) from British prime minister Gordon Brown to smooth the devolution of justice.
At a meeting of the policing board yesterday the new Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Matt Baggott said the package was sufficient for operational needs, including addressing the republican dissident threat.
During the negotiations, Mr Robinson presented Mr Brown with an eight-page dossier of “confidence-building measures” for unionism, which included a call for the scrapping of the Parades Commission. At the time the DUP Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster said Mr Robinson was not laying down “prerequisites” for the devolution of policing and justice.
However, at Westminster on Tuesday, Mr Robinson was explicit that abolishing the commission was now a precondition.
