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Hain optimistic over NI impasse Hain optimistic over NI impasse
(about 1 hour later)
Northern Ireland's political impasse can be overcome if Sinn Fein delivers on policing, Peter Hain has said.Northern Ireland's political impasse can be overcome if Sinn Fein delivers on policing, Peter Hain has said.
On Thursday, Tony Blair warned the DUP and Sinn Fein that commitments on policing and power-sharing must be honoured for an election to happen.On Thursday, Tony Blair warned the DUP and Sinn Fein that commitments on policing and power-sharing must be honoured for an election to happen.
Senior Sinn Fein members will meet next week to discuss whether to move forward with a special conference on policing.Senior Sinn Fein members will meet next week to discuss whether to move forward with a special conference on policing.
Mr Hain said there was "every prospect" that the devolution of policing would be on track by May 2008.Mr Hain said there was "every prospect" that the devolution of policing would be on track by May 2008.
"The big picture is that for the very first time in Northern Ireland's tangled history everybody is saying they agree to share power with each other," he told BBC Radio Ulster."The big picture is that for the very first time in Northern Ireland's tangled history everybody is saying they agree to share power with each other," he told BBC Radio Ulster.
"The DUP are saying they are willing to share power with Sinn Fein, Ian Paisley says he is willing to accept the first minister nomination on 26 March with Martin McGuinness as the deputy first minister. I don't discern any appetite within the unionist community for letting Martin McGuinness or any of this generation of tainted Sinn Fein politicians get their hands on those levers of power Jim AllisterDUP MEP href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/6230971.stm" class="">'Positive' replies to Blair views "The DUP are saying they are willing to share power with Sinn Fein, Ian Paisley says he is willing to accept the first minister nomination on 26 March with Martin McGuinness as the deputy first minister.
"For the very first time, Sinn Fein are saying... they are willing to support the police."For the very first time, Sinn Fein are saying... they are willing to support the police.
Policing has been a dividing issue between the DUP and Sinn Fein
"Equally, what Sinn Fein want to be clear about is that the DUP actually will share power with them in practice and not be diverted by some of the off-stage noises we have heard over recent days."Equally, what Sinn Fein want to be clear about is that the DUP actually will share power with them in practice and not be diverted by some of the off-stage noises we have heard over recent days.
"There is every prospect that we can get through this and move forward and see the devolution of policing on track by May 2008... provided that there is the delivery by Sinn Fein of the practical co-operation with policing in every sense.""There is every prospect that we can get through this and move forward and see the devolution of policing on track by May 2008... provided that there is the delivery by Sinn Fein of the practical co-operation with policing in every sense."
Tony Blair returned home early from holiday on Thursday to try to revive hopes of devolution returning by the end of March. DUP leader Ian Paisley has said his party is willing to make progress but that "upfront delivery is required from Sinn Fein" on policing.
Mr Blair said that if Sinn Fein delivered on supporting the police, there should be devolution of justice by May 2008, as set out in the St Andrews Agreement. However, DUP MEP Jim Allister said on Friday he could not foresee a time when policing and justice could be devolved to an Assembly.
He said Sinn Fein would propose to a special conference on policing that the party "commit now and fully to support the PSNI and the criminal justice system and actively encourage everyone to co-operate fully with the police services in tackling crime in all areas as well as actively supporting all the criminal justice institutions". We are very clear about what is required, we are very clear about the steps that we have taken Conor MurphySinn Fein MP "I don't discern any appetite within the unionist community for letting Martin McGuinness or any of this generation of tainted Sinn Fein politicians get their hands on those levers of power," he said.
Mr Blair said he was "confident that both parties want to see progress and will honour their commitments". Conor Murphy of Sinn Fein said: "We are very clear about what is required, we are very clear about the steps that we have taken."
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Mr Blair had reflected in his statement the basic elements of the motion he would put to his party on policing. He added: "The ard comhairle took a very significant decision for republicans some days ago and we set out in very clear and unequivocal terms what we were prepared to do and the timescale that was prepared to happen in."
Sinn Fein's leadership voted last month to hold a conference on the issue of whether to support policing.Sinn Fein's leadership voted last month to hold a conference on the issue of whether to support policing.
But the party signalled on Wednesday this was in doubt because the move had not received a "positive enough" response from DUP leader Ian Paisley.But the party signalled on Wednesday this was in doubt because the move had not received a "positive enough" response from DUP leader Ian Paisley.
If the conference does not go ahead, the March election may be in doubt. This was enough to make Mr Blair return early from his holiday in Florida for emergency talks.
However, the DUP leader Ian Paisley has insisted there can be no movement until republicans deliver on policing. If Sinn Fein's conference does not go ahead, the March assembly election may be in doubt.
DUP leader Ian Paisley said they were willing to make progress but that "upfront delivery is required from Sinn Fein" on policing.
"There can be no movement unless we have clarity on the need for everyone to support the rule of law," he said.