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Sinn Fein in Policing Board first Sinn Fein in Policing Board first
(about 5 hours later)
Sinn Fein is to meet the Northern Ireland Policing Board for the first time, later. Sinn Fein have held their first talks with the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
Gerry Adams will lead the party in talks with board chairman Sir Desmond Rea at Stormont. The party's leader, Gerry Adams, led a delegation to meet board chairman, Sir Desmond Rea.
Sinn Fein's policing spokesman Alex Maskey said this was the latest in a number of meetings since the ard fheis decision on policing in January. Mr Adams said he would put a proposal to his party executive that they should take part in the Policing Board and District Policing Partnerships.
It is understood police collusion with loyalist paramilitaries and the issue of plastic bullets will be discussed. He also condemned the latest loyalist threats against republicans and party activists over the last few days.
"At the time of the Patten consultation it was Sinn Fein who argued for a strong Policing Board to hold the policing service to account," Mr Maskey said. "It is totally unacceptable. We look to the threat being withdrawn and to be withdrawn in a very public manner as quickly as possible," Mr Adams said.
"In the years since, in a series of negotiations, we worked to ensure that it had the powers necessary to do so. It is understood police collusion with loyalist paramilitaries and the issue of plastic bullets were discussed at the board meeting.
"We are looking forward to the meeting in the morning and we view it very much in the context of delivering on our ard fheis commitment to achieving an accountable and representative service."
Sinn Fein members voted to support policing in Northern Ireland for the first time in the party's history at the ard fheis, or conference, at an end of January.Sinn Fein members voted to support policing in Northern Ireland for the first time in the party's history at the ard fheis, or conference, at an end of January.
Meanwhile, DUP leader Ian Paisley is expected to name his ministerial team for the new assembly on Monday.
His deputy Peter Robinson will be named Finance Minister.
Arlene Foster is expected to take the environment post, while Edwin Poots will be Minister for Culture with Nigel Dodds heading the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.