North on brink of power-share agreement

THE North was on the brink of a power-sharing breakthrough last night as Sinn Féin gave its conditional backing to the St Andrews Agreement.

As the clock ticked down to Friday’s deadline for all parties to approve the devolution deal, Dublin and London worked furiously behind the scenes to ensure ratification.

A compromise move could see the swearing in of the DUP’s Ian Paisley as First Minister and Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness as Deputy Minister agreed in principle on the second stage deadline of November 24, but put off in practice until power is restored to Belfast from Westminster in March.

The legislation devolving power may stipulate the pledge ministers must give in backing the PSNI and in return republicans would get meetings with the DUP in the preparing for government committee at Stormont to iron out how the cross-community executive will work.

Sinn Féin’s ruling executive said the St Andrews Agreement had the potential to move the peace process forward.

“The meeting has mandated the party leadership to follow the course set out at St Andrews and we intend to do this in a very positive way,” SF president Gerry Adams said.

Mr Adams stressed republicans wanted “democratic, accountable” policing but no role for MI5.

The SF executive meeting was briefed by MEP Mary Lou McDonald who, along with MP Conor Murphy, has been heading the consultation within the party on the agreement.

Around 60 grass roots meetings took place across the island in the past fortnight as part of the attempt to keep SF united on the sensitive policing question.

“Events of the last two weeks show us how difficult all of this is going to be to achieve and how much work has still to be done,” Ms McDonald said.

The MEP said conditions were not yet right to call a special ard fheis on policing.

“Sinn Féin is committed to bring an end to decades of bad policing. We want to see democratically accountable civic policing and we will continue to work until we achieve this.

“Gerry Adams will propose to the Ard Chomhairle that we convene a special Árd Fheis as soon as these matters are resolved,” she said.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern welcomed the “positive” Sinn Féin move.

“Sinn Féin recognise that the agreement has the potential to move the process forward. In the light of the responses of the parties the Governments are hopeful that it will be possible to move forward from 10 November with the schedule outlined at St Andrews,” he said.