West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Sinn Féin Officer Board Concludes Policing and Justice Discussions

Published: 13 October, 2009

Speaking after a meeting of the Sinn Féin Officer Board in Dublin today, party President Gerry Adams said:

"Sinn Féin want to see a democratically accountable civic policing service in the north. Central to this is the transfer of powers on policing and justice. This was agreed at St. Andrews.

"The Sinn Féin Officer Board met in Dublin today to decide on a formal party response to the financial package put forward by the British Government to enable the transfer.

"Our approach to this negotiation has been twofold. On one hand to secure an adequate financial package for a quality frontline, civic policing service and a fair and effective justice system; and, on the other, ensuring that existing budgets for health, education and the other departments would not be affected by transfer.

"Yesterday we received from the British government in writing the details of the financial package being proposed. The party Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness recommended to the Officer Board that we proceed on the basis of this financial package.

"The Officer Board today accepted this recommendation and Martin McGuinness will inform the British government of this in discussions in London this evening.

"The process to transfer powers should now be completed quickly."