Clinton backs policing reforms

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tonight threw her weight behind calls for the Northern Ireland Assembly to take responsibility for running the region’s justice system.

Mrs Clinton arrived in Dublin tonight ahead of talks with political leaders in Belfast tomorrow on the economy and on the devolution of the further powers from Westminster.

The politicians at Stormont are edging closer to an historic deal that could see unionists and republicans share responsibility for policing and justice in Northern Ireland.

“The step of devolution for policing and justice is an absolutely essential milestone,” Mrs Clinton said in Dublin tonight.

Sinn Fein has been pressing for movement on completing the devolution of the powers, but the Democratic Unionist Party has said it will not agree to a deal until all issues are resolved to its satisfaction.

The unionist party has also, however, been accused of stalling the process in the face of hard-line voices opposed to a deal with republicans.

Mrs Clinton said: “Clearly there are questions and some apprehensions but I believe that due to the concerted effort of the British government, Irish government and support of friends like us in the US, that the parties understand this is a step they must take together.

“It will take the leaders of both communities working together to continue not only the devolution but then to make day-to-day governing a reality, and I’m confident that that is within reach.”

In Dublin Mrs Clinton met Taoiseach Brian Cowen and President of Ireland Mary McAleese.

Before moving on to Belfast tonight, Mrs Clinton pledged support for political parties developing the peace process, and highlighted how the US administration recently appointed a special economic envoy to help the fledgling power-sharing regime.

“We are going to continue to work with the parties, with the Irish and the British Governments, and the appointment of a special economic envoy is a very tangible signal that we want to invest in the peace dividends that will come with the final devolution of power and authority and the full acceptance of responsibility with the people of Northern Ireland themselves,” she said.

The US Secretary of State was in London earlier today where she warned dissident republicans groups still involved in violence that they were engaged in pointless terrorism.

The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) today announced an end to its 35 years campaign of republican violence in Northern Ireland and now faces calls to decommission its weapons.

In 2005 the much larger IRA paramilitary group announced an end to its campaign, but dissident republican groups such as the so-called Real IRA and the Continuity IRA have continued to launch attacks.

The dissident republican groups claimed responsibility for the murders of two soldiers at Massereene barracks in Co Antrim and a police officer in Craigavon, Co Armagh, in March.

Secretary of State Clinton today said in London there was no financial support for the “evil enterprise” of the Real IRA coming from American sympathisers.

Dissident republicans were “out of step and out of time”, said Mrs Clinton, who used a London press conference to call for an end to violence in Northern Ireland ahead of her visit to the region tomorrow.

Condemning dissident republican violence, she said: “There is no support coming at all from the United States. The best we can tell is that those who try to inflict harm on others, to cause damage, are funding their evil enterprise from criminal gains. We hope to see an end to all of that.”

Mrs Clinton stressed: “The continuing evidence of extremism in Northern Ireland, because to me terrorism is terrorism, and those who would try to disrupt the peace of people going about their daily lives are out of step and out of time.

“But it is imperative that the process that was established by the Good Friday Agreement be seen all the way through to conclusion. I know that Prime Minister Brown is very focused on that.”

Foreign Secretary David Miliband praised Mrs Clinton’s role in coming to Northern Ireland to talk to the political leaders.

He said: “Secretary Clinton’s determination to be her own envoy when it comes to the question of further progress in Northern Ireland is something that is deeply meaningful to the British Government and I think to the British people as well.

“Your visit to Dublin and to Northern Ireland is a token not just of America’s commitment to see through the remarkable progress that has been made, but also of your personal commitment that has existed for 15 or 20 years.”