New warning over devolution

The British government would be sounding the death knell for devolution in the North if it tries to impose a justice minister on the Stormont Assembly next year, a senior unionist warned today.

Democratic Unionist deputy leader Peter Robinson said that his party would not accept any move by the British government to appoint a justice minister and deputy over the heads of political parties at Stormont if they could not elect them themselves.

The east Belfast MP also stressed that his party would not accept any concession given to republicans over the return of on-the-run paramilitaries to the North.

He dismissed Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams’ claim today that republican support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) would advance their cause of a united Ireland.

After suggestions that London would move to appoint a justice minister and deputy if they could not be elected in the assembly in a cross-community vote, Mr Robinson said: “If that were ever to happen, it would be the death knell for devolution.

“The suggestion that a national government could appoint ministers to a devolved government is so preposterous that it is unworthy of devolution.”

The Northern Ireland Office is believed to have made the proposal in a paper that has been circulated to members of the Transitional Assembly’s sub-group on policing and justice.

The proposal is due to be discussed this week by the sub-group, possibly on Thursday.

The document was issued over Christmas shortly after negotiations were concluded with Sinn Féin and Gerry Adams announced his intention to call a special party conference on whether republicans should support and cooperate with the PSNI.

On Friday, Mr Adams succeeded in persuading his national executive to call the special conference this month.

As yet, Sinn Féin has not given a date for the meeting or released the full details of the motion that delegates will debate.

However, it is understood that the party will ask them to back a motion suggesting Sinn Féin should endorse the PSNI and An Garda Síochána and and take seats on the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the District Policing Partnerships.

At a republican commemoration for two IRA members killed during a raid on a police barracks in the Co Fermanagh village of Brookeborough, Mr Adams today urged colleagues to address the issue of policing if they want to advance their goal of achieving a united Ireland.

He told the commemoration: “The party leadership believes this represents a sustainable basis to deliver a new beginning to policing in the context of our strategic objectives, the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and moving the struggle closer to our primary aim of Irish independence, self determination and sovereignty.

“This strategic initiative presents a massive challenge for republicans but, like all republican initiatives, it is risky.

“The Brookeborough raid was risky. Struggle of any kind is risky.

“We should remember that those who want to maximise change must be prepared to take the greatest risk.”

Mr Robinson, however, said today that he did not think that unionists would be duped by Sinn Féin’s claim that support for the PSNI advanced the cause of a united Ireland.

The DUP deputy leader said: “I do not think unionists will be convinced by Sinn Féin giving support to the PSNI and the British courts in Northern Ireland that it is in real terms a step towards a united Ireland.

“Most people will recognise he is attempting to put a gloss on it for republicans.

“It would be far better if people were to recognise that in a democratic society you could not have people in government who do not support the police and the courts.

“That support is an essential step for anyone who aspires to be in government.”