North leaders face grilling on policing transfer stalemate
The North’s First and Deputy First Ministers are to appear before Assembly members to explain the political logjam surrounding the transfer of policing powers to Stormont, it was revealed today.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have agreed to face questions from the committee established to examine the controversial issue which has brought deadlock to the power-sharing administration.
The Cabinet has not met for more than four months and created a dispute between the two main parties – the DUP and Sinn Féin – over the matter.
Republicans want powers devolved as soon as possible and claim the DUP have already broken a pledge in the St Andrews Agreement to transfer them in May.
However unionists insist there is still not sufficient community confidence to justify the move.
The ministers have now written to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee accepting their request to appear before them. They will face questions in private session next Tuesday.
