Threat to power-sharing 'a big mistake', warns Hain
Politicians in the North would be making a huge mistake if they let efforts to revive power-sharing slip because of a dispute over the transfer of policing and justice powers, Peter Hain insisted today.
The Northern Ireland Secretary urged Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionists to keep their eyes on the big picture of what could be achieved over the coming months.
He warned that if they missed the opportunity in front of them, there would be no Assembly election on March 7, or devolved government for many years.
Mr Hain said: “It is absolutely vital, at this initial moment, that everyone concentrates on the big picture. That is, for the first time in Northern Ireland’s history, everybody is saying they are willing to share power with each other and, for the first time, everybody is saying they’re willing to support the police.
“That is what Sinn Féin’s executive recommended last week. If those seeking to derail the process – either dissenting republicans or dissenting unionists – get their way, Northern Ireland will miss this historic opportunity.
“When I say miss, I mean it, as there will be no question of there being an election or the restoration of an executive or Assembly on March 26. For it to fall at this point, on the issue of a timeframe for the devolution of policing and justice, would be a big mistake.”
The Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists have insisted Sinn Féin must move to endorse the Police Service of Northern Ireland for the first time in its history if there is to be power-sharing on March 26.
Last week, Sinn Féin’s national executive backed moves by Gerry Adams to hold a special party conference on policing this month.
However, the staging of a conference depended on the response of the British and Irish governments and the DUP to Mr Adams’ move.
On Wednesday, Sinn Féin cast doubt on whether the conference could go ahead, after they said they were still waiting for a positive response from the DUP.
British prime minister Tony Blair cut short his Christmas holiday in Miami and returned to Downing Street to deal with the latest wobble in the North’s bid to restore devolution.
In an attempt to break the impasse, Mr Blair set out his interpretation of what was required from the DUP and Sinn Féin in the coming months, in the hope that it could persuade the two parties to press ahead with their plans in the knowledge that both were committed to it.
Sinn Féin’s officer board has decided to meet next Tuesday to review the situation and study Mr Paisley’s responses to recent republican statements and Mr Blair’s initiative.
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