Downing Street summit to review peace process
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to review progress on policing in Northern Ireland and other aspects of the Good Friday Agreement during talks today with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The two leaders are expected to discuss during their Downing Street summit the work of Northern Ireland’s fledgling 19-member Police Board and efforts to persuade Sinn Fein to end its boycott of policing.
Mr Ahern yesterday urged Sinn Fein to sign up to the North’s new policing arrangements when legislation amending police reforms is laid before Westminister later this year.
The Fianna Fail leader said: ‘‘I think ultimately if we are to have proper policing with the respect of the community, it’s necessary in any society that the community supports the police service.
’’I think it will happen, but it will take some time in next month or April, that a review will start of the Police Service Bill and the legislation.
’’That’s meant to take about six months and after that it is hoped that there could be some amending legislation.
’’Somewhere around that, I hope that Sinn Fein would take the opportunity to come in because I do think ultimately it is vital that everyone representing nationalist and republican, loyalist and unionist are part of the police service.
’’So far the board has performed very, very well and people would be very satisfied with the progress they have made on some very, very difficult issues in the last month or so.’’
Sinn Fein has refused to take its place on the 19-member board which holds the new Police Service of Northern Ireland accountable because they claim police reforms do not go far enough.
The SDLP, however, have taken their seats and have encouraged members of their community to join the police.
Sinn Fein’s two seats on the board were allocated instead to David Trimble’s Ulster Unionists and the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists.
The Police Board, which is made up of 10 Assembly members and nine independent members drawn from the community, has agreed a badge for the new police service and come up with its own proposals over the future direction of the controversial Omagh bomb investigation.
Mr Blair and Mr Ahern are also expected to discuss during today’s summit legislation currently making its way through Westminster aimed at reforming Northern Ireland’s criminal justice system, decommissioning and the equality agenda.
