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NI secretary in talks with Orde Woodward is hopeful over handover
(about 7 hours later)
The new Northern Ireland Secretary is to meet the chief constable as he embarks on his first week in the job. The new Northern Ireland Secretary has said he sees no reason why the devolution of policing and justice in NI cannot be delivered by May 2008.
Shaun Woodward, who was appointed by Gordon Brown last week, will have a series of engagements on Monday. "I see no reason to think this cannot be delivered by people in Northern Ireland," Mr Woodward said.
Mr Woodward has said he wants to play his part in achieving the devolution of policing and justice powers. He was speaking as he began his first full week in office by meeting Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde.
The government hopes to hand these powers over to the executive by May 2008, but the DUP has indicated that this timetable will not be met. Mr Woodward, who was appointed by Gordon Brown last week, is holding a number of meetings on Monday.
Mr Woodward has said that there are "still important challenges ahead" in Northern Ireland. He said he wants to play his part in achieving the devolution of policing and justice powers.
On Sunday, the new secretary of state said that Prime Minister Gordon Brown's priority for Northern Ireland was the devolution of policing and justice. "It is the people of Northern Ireland who want this to happen, whether it is the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, whether it is the chief constable or its politicians in the executive and the assembly, they are all here to serve the people of Northern Ireland," he said.
The NIO has now been reduced to just two ministers following last week's Cabinet reshuffle. The government hopes to hand the powers over to the executive by May 2008, but the DUP has indicated that this timetable will not be met.
Paul Goggins has been promoted to a Minister of State. He had been responsible for security and prisons.
Criminal Justice Minister Maria Eagle is leaving the NIO to take up a position at the new Justice Ministry.
The Northern Ireland Office confirmed that it was the first time there had been only two ministers at the NIO.