Cowen quizzed on police ombudsman idea

Foreign minister Brian Cowen is to be quizzed about the possible appointment of a policing ombudsman.

Brian Cowen will face questions on the issue at a meeting in Dublin of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body.

The two-day conference, which opens today, is the 24th of its kind since the body was established 12 years ago to boost relations between members of the British and Irish parliaments.

And after addressing delegates, as well as representatives of the Scottish, Welsh, Northern Ireland, Channel Island and the Isle of Man assemblies, the minister will undertake a question-and-answer session.

The policing ombudsman question was set to be raised by British delegate Lord Dubs - a former Northern Ireland Office minister - and Tony Killeen, a member of Fianna Fail.

Mr Cowen is also set to deal with other linked issues, including progress made on achieving common policing standards on both sides of the Irish border - and the number of applications being made from the Irish Republic to join either the newly-titled Police Service of Northern Ireland or the province’s police board.

Other sessions of the conference will consider a motion welcoming the joint Scottish-Irish bid to host the 2008 European soccer championships and reaffirm support for the 1998 Good Friday agreement.