Confidence call 'can't be excuse'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7671845.stm

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Unionist demands for community confidence must not become an excuse for an indefinite delay in devolving justice, Shaun Woodward has said.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the NI Secretary said it was essential the executive should meet, but also urged the parties to complete devolution.

The Northern Ireland Executive has not met for months in a row over policing.

An executive meeting is scheduled for Thursday, but there is no sign of an end to the deadlock.

Mr Woodward described a decision by the assembly's Executive and Review Committee on Tuesday to set a five week timetable for their discussions on devolving policing as "welcome progress".

Nationalists voted in favour of the timetable, but unionists described the move as "unhelpful".