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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Adams confident of police outcome | Adams confident of police outcome |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Sinn Fein executive is meeting in Dublin to discuss the issue of republican support for policing in Northern Ireland. | |
| Gerry Adams called the meeting of the executive to consider his proposal for a special party conference on policing and justice next month. | Gerry Adams called the meeting of the executive to consider his proposal for a special party conference on policing and justice next month. |
| 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. |
| The Sinn Fein president said he was confident of a positive outcome. | The Sinn Fein president said he was confident of a positive outcome. |
| 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. |
| "I think what I am putting forward is the right thing to do," he said. | "I think what I am putting forward is the right thing to do," he said. |
| Welcomed | Welcomed |
| "I will move all I can to meet all the concerns of the people involved, but this is me and our core leadership saying this is the right thing to do and this is the time to do it." | "I will move all I can to meet all the concerns of the people involved, but this is me and our core leadership saying this is the right thing to do and this is the time to do it." |
| The Sinn Fein move was welcomed by Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain. | The Sinn Fein move was welcomed by Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain. |
| "All parties, Ian Paisley's DUP included, support the principle of policing and justice being devolved to the incoming executive when the time is right," he said. | "All parties, Ian Paisley's DUP included, support the principle of policing and justice being devolved to the incoming executive when the time is right," he said. |
| "The question was getting that time-frame in view and, on the other hand, getting absolute clarity that Sinn Fein were prepared to take what was a historic step for them, a seismic step." | "The question was getting that time-frame in view and, on the other hand, getting absolute clarity that Sinn Fein were prepared to take what was a historic step for them, a seismic step." |
| The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson also welcomed Mr Adams's statement and added that "words needed to be matched by deeds". | The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson also welcomed Mr Adams's statement and added that "words needed to be matched by deeds". |
| "We will look at that very carefully to see what its implications are in terms of republicans calling on people in their communities to support the police, to co-operate with the police, to co-operate with the courts, and, if we get that in word, then it needs to be matched by deed," he said. | "We will look at that very carefully to see what its implications are in terms of republicans calling on people in their communities to support the police, to co-operate with the police, to co-operate with the courts, and, if we get that in word, then it needs to be matched by deed," he said. |
| "It's the quality of all of that that will determine how quickly we can move." | "It's the quality of all of that that will determine how quickly we can move." |
| SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell urged Sinn Fein to "seize the initiative on policing". | SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell urged Sinn Fein 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? | "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. |