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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sinn Fein set to discuss policing | Sinn Fein set to discuss policing |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sinn Fein has announced it is calling a special meeting of its executive to discuss the issue of republican backing for policing in Northern Ireland. | Sinn Fein has announced it is calling a special meeting of its executive to discuss the issue of republican backing for policing in Northern Ireland. |
| Party leader Gerry Adams said the party's executive council would meet in Dublin on Friday. | Party leader Gerry Adams said the party's executive council would meet in Dublin on Friday. |
| He said he would put forward a motion asking for a special party-wide conference "on the policing issue". | He said he would put forward a motion asking for a special party-wide conference "on the policing issue". |
| Sinn Fein support for policing would be viewed as removing one of the main obstacles to restoring devolution. | Sinn Fein support for policing would be viewed as removing one of the main obstacles to restoring devolution. |
| Mr Adams said that if his motion was successful, the ard fheis (party conference) would be held in January. | Mr Adams said that if his motion was successful, the ard fheis (party conference) would be held in January. |
| 'Repressive' | 'Repressive' |
| "In the run-up to this ard fheis, there will be an intensive period of discussion within the party..." he said. | "In the run-up to this ard fheis, there will be an intensive period of discussion within the party..." he said. |
| "Given the history of repressive and sectarian policing in the six counties, I don't want to underestimate the difficulties that this issue presents for many nationalists and republicans. | "Given the history of repressive and sectarian policing in the six counties, I don't want to underestimate the difficulties that this issue presents for many nationalists and republicans. |
| "However, the achievement of a new beginning to policing, as promised in the Good Friday Agreement, would be an enormous accomplishment." | "However, the achievement of a new beginning to policing, as promised in the Good Friday Agreement, would be an enormous accomplishment." |
| DUP leader Ian Paisley said: "The calling of an ard comhairle, and later an ard fheis, are long overdue by Sinn Fein. | DUP leader Ian Paisley said: "The calling of an ard comhairle, and later an ard fheis, are long overdue by Sinn Fein. |
| "Unionism will be interested in the quality of delivery on the ground when it comes to support for policing and the rule of law. | "Unionism will be interested in the quality of delivery on the ground when it comes to support for policing and the rule of law. |
| "Words alone have never been enough. The DUP will continue to push and push Sinn Fein on these matters." | "Words alone have never been enough. The DUP will continue to push and push Sinn Fein on these matters." |
| SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell welcomed Sinn Fein's decision and urged the party to "seize the initiative on policing". | SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell welcomed Sinn Fein's decision and urged the party to "seize the initiative on policing". |
| "People on the ground have made the decision a long time ago that we need honest policing and we also need to protect the public," Mr McDonnell said. | "People on the ground have made the decision a long time ago that we need honest policing and we also need to protect the public," Mr McDonnell said. |
| 'Lost battle' | 'Lost battle' |
| "Until Sinn Fein engage seriously and honestly in the policing process, nationalist neighbourhoods will not have the policing they're entitled to." | "Until Sinn Fein engage seriously and honestly in the policing process, nationalist neighbourhoods will not have the policing they're entitled to." |
| Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said Sinn Fein had "lost the battle on policing". | Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said Sinn Fein had "lost the battle on policing". |
| "They have no support outside their own ranks for their current policy," he said. | "They have no support outside their own ranks for their current policy," he said. |
| "The key to all of this is, what decision is the ard fheis being asked to endorse? Is it a qualified decision with power to be handed to the leadership to handle? | |
| "It's a first step. Will it be clear-cut or will there be further obfuscation?" | "It's a first step. Will it be clear-cut or will there be further obfuscation?" |
| Alliance Party leader David Ford said: "There is no point in holding the ard comhairle unless Gerry Adams is prepared to recommend to it that a special ard fheis is held to ensure that Sinn Fein moves forward and accepts its full responsibility in the area of justice and policing. | Alliance Party leader David Ford said: "There is no point in holding the ard comhairle unless Gerry Adams is prepared to recommend to it that a special ard fheis is held to ensure that Sinn Fein moves forward and accepts its full responsibility in the area of justice and policing. |
| "Some of us have been waiting for this since 1998. It's long overdue but nonetheless welcome." | "Some of us have been waiting for this since 1998. It's long overdue but nonetheless welcome." |
| The British and Irish governments have named 7 March as the date for fresh assembly elections with a new executive expected to be up and running by 26 March. | The British and Irish governments have named 7 March as the date for fresh assembly elections with a new executive expected to be up and running by 26 March. |
| Northern Secretary Peter Hain has announced that elections to the assembly will be held on 7 March. | Northern Secretary Peter Hain has announced that elections to the assembly will be held on 7 March. |
| Talks aimed at restoring the assembly and its executive have been taking place since the St Andrews Agreement negotiations in November. | Talks aimed at restoring the assembly and its executive have been taking place since the St Andrews Agreement negotiations in November. |