Ministers to meet to discuss policing deadlock

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin will meet Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward today but a breakthrough on policing and justice does not look imminent, Stormont sources have said.

Leading figures in talks between Sinn Féin and the DUP do not expect to meet until later this week at the earliest, however.

The major parties in the North’s power-sharing government have been in discussions for months regarding the devolution of policing responsibilities from London to Belfast.

Sinn Féin wants to see progress immediately, but the DUP intends to ensure the finances and community confidence are in place. Fears have been growing that the future of the Executive and Assembly could be jeopardised by the disagreement.

Mr Woodward is expected to attend the funeral of Catholic Cardinal Cahal Daly in Armagh before his meeting with Mr Martin.

It follows an engagement between Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown before Christmas.

The DUP’s officers group of senior party members met on Monday at Stormont and Tory shadow Northern Secretary Owen Paterson met DUP leader and First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness separately.

Stormont sources do not expect a meeting between Mr McGuinness and Mr Robinson to take place until later this week at the earliest.

The Irish and British governments are keen to progress policing and justice, which is seen as the last piece in the devolution jigsaw.

Mr Brown has to call a Westminster election by June and is expected to do so by May, triggering a period of campaigning in the North and a possible new government which could complicate efforts to resolve the issue.

Mr Robinson has been dealing with family issues and his wife and Strangford MP Iris Robinson admitted after Christmas that she was suffering from depression and intends to bow out from public life.