North's leaders clash on policing powers

However, while unionists and Sinn Féin have regularly clashed on the issue, it was the SDLP that today objected to the latest development.

The party's Social Development minister, Margaret Ritchie, said that they planned to step outside the normal power-sharing rules in appointing a new Justice Minister would effectively bar any nationalist from securing the post.

Sinn Féin and the DUP have agreed to temporarily step outside the normal selection process to ensure a candidate agreeable to a majority of people is selected, with the favourite being the cross-community Alliance Party.

However, Ms Ritchie said: "What I am surprised at is the position of (Deputy First Minister) Martin McGuinness because he has acquiesced to the position of the DUP by allowing that no nationalist will be eligible for this position and no nationalist in Northern Ireland will be the Justice Minister for this country."

But Sinn Féin Junior Minister Gerry Kelly said the move was temporary and was a necessary compromise to secure the prize of bringing policing under the control of local politicians.

He said: "What we want is an agreed minister in the interim to move that forward.

"That is what all this is about.

"Martin McGuinness is on record that we want a nationalist Justice Minister."

When challenged on the SDLP claims he said: "Do we want policing and justice transferred here or do we want the SDLP to sit whinging in the sidelines for the next five, 10, or 15 years."

Ministers from the Northern Assembly met today at Stormont Castle, though two senior ministers were not present.

The Executive agreed a number of other measures including a Rates Amendment Bill which it said would help householders and smaller businesses in the economic downturn.

Ministers also agreed plans to start a 10-week public consultation on a Victims and Survivors Service Bill which will provide a mechanism for funding the work with victims of the Troubles.

Divisions between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party over the devolution of policing and justice caused a stand-off which prevented the Executive from leading for five months last year.

In November the two parties agreed a blueprint for delivering the transfer of the powers and while a completion date was not announced there has been speculation the process could be completed by the end of the year.

Today however Democratic Unionist Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said he was concerned at the pace of talks with Downing Street over the financial arrangements to deliver a new justice ministry at Stormont.

Mr Wilson hinted that without progress the talks on a financial package could collapse.

However, tonight Mr Kelly said talks were ongoing and he described the decision to agree today's enabling legislation as a substantial step towards devolving policing powers to the Assembly.