Robinson denies breaking policing pledges
FIRST Minister Peter Robinson has denied claims by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams that a date for the devolution of policing powers was agreed in 2006.
Mr Adams has claimed the DUP agreed as part of the St Andrews Agreement to the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly by May of this year.
AIR YOUR VIEWS ON THE POLICING DEADLOCK ON THE BIG DEBATE
However, the DUP leader said Mr Adams' assertions were wholly inaccurate.
The East Belfast MP described the remarks as "bizarre and difficult to understand".
Earlier this week, the DUP and Sinn made known against the background of increasing deadlock at Stormont, that they had reached agreement on one future justice ministry but no date for the devolving for future powers.
"Gerry Adams' repeated suggestion that the DUP signed up to a date, or even a target date for the devolution of policing and justice functions to the Northern Ireland Assembly at St Andrews is demonstrably false," Mr Robinson said.
"Once again let me remind him that the DUP made the position clear on the final day at the end of the negotiations at St Andrews when we said: 'There is no definitive date for the devolution of policing and justice powers. We remain of the unshakeable view that those powers can only be transferred whenever there is the required community confidence.'"
"This has been the clear and consistent position of the party and remains the position today."
The First Minister admitted that while progress had been made in recent weeks, "considerable hurdles" still lay ahead before a definitive date could be agreed.
On Wednesday, the Government asked the Independent Monitoring Commission to produce a report as to whether or not the IRA had dismantled all of its paramilitary structures.
Many unionists have demanded the disbandment of the IRA Army Council as as essential prior to the devolution of policing powers.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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