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Powers transfer 'not yet ready' Justice transfer 'must be soon'
(about 3 hours later)
First Minister Ian Paisley has said he will not be proposing the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont. Devolution of policing and justice powers should happen soon, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has said.
It comes after the British and Irish prime ministers urged all the political parties to complete the process of devolution. First Minister Ian Paisley said he would not be proposing devolution by the May deadline because there was insufficient public confidence.
However, the British and Irish governments have backed the transfer.
"The DUP has agreed with the broad principles of all of these matters, it is only a matter of timing," said Mr Adams.
The British and Irish prime ministers urged all the political parties to complete the process of devolution.
They want the policing and justice powers transferred by the May deadline.They want the policing and justice powers transferred by the May deadline.
Mr Paisley said the move could only happen with the necessary support within communities.Mr Paisley said the move could only happen with the necessary support within communities.
Those conditions did not exist at present, he said.Those conditions did not exist at present, he said.
The first minister said he was now seeking an urgent meeting with the prime minister.The first minister said he was now seeking an urgent meeting with the prime minister.
"We have no St Andrews Agreement on this issue," he said."We have no St Andrews Agreement on this issue," he said.
"This idea that it must be done by May is not our idea and we never agreed to it.""This idea that it must be done by May is not our idea and we never agreed to it."
There had to be an end to the IRA army council and the "very heavy financial debt" on the police had to be addressed, he said.There had to be an end to the IRA army council and the "very heavy financial debt" on the police had to be addressed, he said.
"These are deal-breakers. There is a triple lock on this issue, which gives me the responsibility of proposing to the assembly that this happens - and under the present circumstances this would be impossible.""These are deal-breakers. There is a triple lock on this issue, which gives me the responsibility of proposing to the assembly that this happens - and under the present circumstances this would be impossible."
'Major priority''Major priority'
The St Andrews Agreement set the May deadline, but some DUP members remain to be convinced.The St Andrews Agreement set the May deadline, but some DUP members remain to be convinced.
The premiers said the implementation of St Andrews was "building the community confidence necessary to enable transfer of these powers to take place".The premiers said the implementation of St Andrews was "building the community confidence necessary to enable transfer of these powers to take place".
Last May, devolution was restored to Northern Ireland after the DUP agreed to share power with Sinn Fein, but Westminster still retains control over policing and justice powers.Last May, devolution was restored to Northern Ireland after the DUP agreed to share power with Sinn Fein, but Westminster still retains control over policing and justice powers.
Sinn Fein have identified the transfer of these powers as a major priority.Sinn Fein have identified the transfer of these powers as a major priority.
The premiers were in Manchester for Munich commemorations Ian Paisley said conditions did not exist at present
Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said the transfer of policing and justice was "a requirement of the negotiations which led to the restoration of the institutions".Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said the transfer of policing and justice was "a requirement of the negotiations which led to the restoration of the institutions".
"We are working very much with a mind that the transfer of policing and justice will happen by the May time-frame, and that is an agreement."We are working very much with a mind that the transfer of policing and justice will happen by the May time-frame, and that is an agreement.
"It was agreed by both governments, and in fact Mr Paisley himself, when he launched his press conference he acknowledged the agreements of St Andrews and the discussions thereafter.""It was agreed by both governments, and in fact Mr Paisley himself, when he launched his press conference he acknowledged the agreements of St Andrews and the discussions thereafter."
In their joint statement, the British and Irish prime ministers said: "We stand ready to help the political parties as they work to complete the process of devolution through the devolution of policing and justice powers."In their joint statement, the British and Irish prime ministers said: "We stand ready to help the political parties as they work to complete the process of devolution through the devolution of policing and justice powers."
They added: "Having seen the huge progress made, we are convinced that the time is right for the parties to move forward and take the final steps towards full devolution and full normality."They added: "Having seen the huge progress made, we are convinced that the time is right for the parties to move forward and take the final steps towards full devolution and full normality."
The premiers were in Manchester on Sunday to mark 50 years since the Munich air disaster.The premiers were in Manchester on Sunday to mark 50 years since the Munich air disaster.