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Orde holds talks with Sinn Fein Orde holds talks with Sinn Fein
(20 minutes later)
A Sinn Fein delegation led by party president Gerry Adams has met the head of Northern Ireland's police.A Sinn Fein delegation led by party president Gerry Adams has met the head of Northern Ireland's police.
The meeting with Sir Hugh Orde came as republicans face growing pressure to support the police as part of the deal to restore devolution.The meeting with Sir Hugh Orde came as republicans face growing pressure to support the police as part of the deal to restore devolution.
Mr Adams described the meeting as "good" but said he could not yet call a special convention on policing.Mr Adams described the meeting as "good" but said he could not yet call a special convention on policing.
The chief constable also said the meeting "had been good" and described the converstaion as "testing". The chief constable also said the meeting "had been good" and described the conversation as "testing".
Speaking before the meeting, Mr Adams claimed that MI5 "orchestrated a policy of collusion" and could have "no role in civic policing". Although Sir Hugh said he has had a number of meetings with Sinn Fein representatives, this was his first formal encounter with Mr Adams since the two men met inside Downing Street two years ago.
During the meeting at Stormont, they discussed issues such as MI5, collusion and the closure of barracks. Mr Adams said he would have called a meeting of the Sinn Fein ard comhairle (party executive) to discuss the policing issue "long ago, had I the basis to do so".
MI5 is due to take over the lead role in intelligence involving national security in Northern Ireland by the end of 2007. A complex for the security service is being built at Palace Barracks in Holywood, County Down. "We need to resolve the whole matter of the transfer of powers on policing and justice in a do-able, definitive timeframe to achieve that," he said.
"We will also raise political policing and the need for clear proof that this has ended or will end, an end to plastic bullets and Sinn Fein is committed to law and order and proper and effective policing," he said. "We need to get the MI5 security service out of policing. We need to deal with all these other issues which we dealt with at this morning's meeting."
"Consequently, we are determined to ensure that the police service operates under the highest standards and is held to account through the most rigorous and efficient accountable and transparent mechanisms and we will also discuss collusion." MI5 is due to take over the lead role in intelligence involving national security in Northern Ireland by the end of 2007.
Sir Hugh said they had discussed routine policing and how the past had affected current policing.
"I think it was a testing conversation and I think that is a good thing," he said.
"I don't want nice conversations. I want to be pushed. I need to push my organisation.
"We have a job to do, which is to convince all communities that we are capable of protecting them and these conversations help that."
The meeting will take place at StormontThe meeting will take place at Stormont
Mr Adams was accompanied at the meeting by assembly members Gerry Kelly and Caitriona Ruane and fellow MP Michelle Gildernew.Mr Adams was accompanied at the meeting by assembly members Gerry Kelly and Caitriona Ruane and fellow MP Michelle Gildernew.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the chief constable had always indicated he was prepared to talk to anyone willing or able to make a positive contribution to policing.The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the chief constable had always indicated he was prepared to talk to anyone willing or able to make a positive contribution to policing.
Sinn Fein is facing demands from other political parties in Northern Ireland as well as the British, Irish and US governments to fully endorse the PSNI.Sinn Fein is facing demands from other political parties in Northern Ireland as well as the British, Irish and US governments to fully endorse the PSNI.
Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party has insisted without such a move from Gerry Adams' party there will be no power sharing at Stormont next March.Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party has insisted without such a move from Gerry Adams' party there will be no power sharing at Stormont next March.
However, Mr Adams repeated Sinn Fein could not hold a special conference to change its policing policy without agreement first on a date for the transfer of justice and policing powers from Westminster to Stormont, the type of government department that will handle it and assurances that MI5 will have no role in civic policing.
"I am prepared to call a meeting of the Sinn Fein ard chomhairle (national executive) immediately agreement has been reached on these issues and for the purpose of convening a special ard fheis (conference) within the timeframe set out at St. Andrews," he said.
"However, I will not go to the ard chomhairle to seek a special ard fheis unless I have the basis to do so."