SF members head to Dublin for landmark talks

Sinn Féin will begin a process today which could lead republicans to a once unthinkable position – supporting the North’s police service.

Party president Gerry Adams has called an executive council meeting in Dublin to consider a potentially seismic shift in mindset and historic development in the Irish peace process.

He will urge senior members to back his proposal for a special party-wide conference on the policing issue in January.

Were that to result in Sinn Féin ending its boycott of the force in the North, London and Dublin would have pulled off a major coup as they seek to achieve a lasting political settlement and restore the devolution to Stormont.

Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party which must sit in a coalition government with republicans if the power-sharing blueprint is to work, gave a cautious response to the development.

He said: “We will await further developments in the days ahead to see whether there has been delivery, in both word and deed, from Sinn Féin.”

However, both the British and Irish governments backed the potential breakthrough.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain said: “Getting agreement on policing and power sharing are the twin pillars on which devolution will stand and I am very encouraged that what we all have been working for is moving into place.

“Of course we all want to see practical delivery but for the first time, we now have the real prospect of every political party supporting policing and the rule of law.

“The choice facing the parties has always been dissolution or devolution within the St Andrews timeframe of March 26. That remains the position but (last night’s) announcement is a positive move in the right direction.”

Irish premier Bertie Ahern was equally heartened by the move and said it was vital for the future of power-sharing.

“This is an encouraging and significant development,” the Taoiseach said.

“I hope that this Ard Comhairle (national executive) will agree the convening of a special Sinn Féin Ard Fheis (party conference) in January that will definitely and positively decide on the policing issue.

“This is vital if the St Andrews timetable is to be maintained.”

“A resolution of the policing issue by Sinn Féin in January will greatly help to build confidence and clear the way to the restoration of the Executive in March.”

Mr Adams, who will also be anxious to avoid causing a major split in republican ranks over such a sensitive issue, said that the decision to call the meeting was made after considerable progress was achieved during an intense round of negotiations over Christmas on the policing issue with the British government.

The West Belfast MP said: “I will be proposing that the ard chomhairle convene a special ard fheis on the policing issue and I will put a motion to that effect.

“If the ard chomhairle agrees to that motion, and others including the two governments and the DUP leadership respond positively, the ard fheis will go ahead in January.

“In the run-up to this ard fheis there will be an intensive period of discussion within the party, which will be led by party chairperson Mary Lou McDonald.

“In addition, Sinn Féin will engage in a series of meetings with the wider republican and nationalist community across the island, including the families of our patriot dead and victims of state murder and collusion.

“Given the history of repressive and sectarian policing in the Six Counties (Northern Ireland), I don’t want to underestimate the difficulties that this issue presents for many nationalists and republicans.

“However, the achievement of a new beginning to policing, as promised in the Good Friday Agreement, would be an enormous accomplishment. And I believe that we have now reached the point of taking the next necessary step.”

The resolution of the policing issue in the North is seen as pivotal to the prospects of power sharing between unionists and nationalists returning next year.

At the end of the St Andrews talks in October, Tony Blair and Mr Ahern set out a plan which would see power sharing return next March if the Democratic Unionists signalled a willingness to share power with Sinn Féin and republicans signed up to supporting the PSNI.

Mr Paisley has said since then that he will share power with Sinn Féin provided IRA paramilitary and criminal activity has ended and that Mr Adams’ party proves its commitment to supporting the PSNI, the courts and upholding the rule of law.

In return for its support for the PSNI, Sinn Féin has pressed for guarantees that policing and justice powers would be transferred quickly from Westminster to a future Stormont administration, agreement on the type of government department that will handle the powers and no role for MI5 in civic policing.

The DUP, however, will have to give its assent to a date for the transfer of policing and justice powers.

Its senior negotiators have ruled out giving a date before a Sinn Féin move on policing.

Some have also ruled out giving a date until they have had enough time to assess after a Sinn Féin move whether republicans are genuinely supporting the police.

Mr Adams, Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness and policing spokesman Gerry Kelly have also received death threats in recent weeks from disaffected and dissident republicans opposed to any change in policy towards the PSNI.

The Sinn Féin president said that he was recommending a party conference to his national executive because he believed it was the right thing to do.

“If it succeeds it will advance the struggle for equality and the search for a just and lasting peace on the island of Ireland,” he said.