The DUP have always claimed that devolution of policing and justice could only occur when there was adequate confidence within the community. The News Letter is reporting that Peter Robinson has said that unionist confidence was increasing. Is a date in the offing?
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Turgon,
It should be reasonably obvious to everyone that it is no longer a matter of if, but when; and the “when” is probably some point before the coming winter. We can expect that during the runup we’ll see plenty of articles like this talking it up.
“I am the lord of the dance”, said he.
Turgon,
I’m pretty confident that the date was agreed quite some time ago, with a (spittled?) handshake.
It just hasn’t been announced. I would guess early September.
Of course what we all would really like to know is how Turgon feels about the possibility of an impending devolution of police and justice. Perhaps he might care to share with us. After all he is among friends.
Since last November when Robbo and Marty decided to kiss, chuckle and make up it always looked like there was as an understanding on the process if not the exact date of the transfer.
The “is a target is a deadline” debate which raged on Slugger for months consistently missed the crucial politics of this issue namerly that it is the last piece of the political and peace process and it was highly unlikely that the Englezes could permit its non imlementation so long as SF kept their house in order no matter what the apparent benefit DUP votes at Westminster might be to them. Both Robbo and Deputy Dodsy have admitted that threats from the Englezes have kept them on the striaght and narrow.
The DUP have been (continue to be) successful in delying the inevitable but in the process they seem to have inadvertently choreographed the isseue with the forthcoming elections. Having been elected to smash SF, the DUP may, if Jimbo can get traction on this issue, be helping SF over the Euro line as poll winners.
Turgon,
do you agree this issue will be a major weapon in Jimbo’s armoury for the election?
Of course the issue of confidence is being talked up but the question for many people is to define just what that means. Essentially confidence will exist when the unionist community ‘trust’ republicans to treat policing and justice as an issue which should not be politicised. However even if the community came to that understanding it will be for those who sign off on devolution of policing and justice to state clearly that they trust republicans. This is unlikely to happen before june 4th but will happen soon after since the assessment will be that with two years to go to assembly and local government elections the issue will not have as high a profile come election time. The gamble however is in fitting this all in before the next westminster elections. Devolution could be voted through with the DUP MLA’s ordered to support it only to find themselves standing on the doorsteps within a few weeks telling people they trust Martin and Gerry. Interesting times ahead.
The McGuinness comments certainly had an impact although the SF pressline has slipped back to the more mealy mouthed Adams line.
Kieron,
The “is a target is a deadline” debate which raged on Slugger for months consistently missed the crucial politics of this issue namerly that it is the last piece of the political and peace process and it was highly unlikely that the Englezes could permit its non imlementation so long as SF kept their house in order no matter what the apparent benefit DUP votes at Westminster might be to them.
A theory which rests on the idea that the DUP are opposed to devolving policing and justice. According to their public statements, they are not.
I don’t believe that Allister will get traction as the DUP seem to have gotten the balance just about right. But we’ll see.
I think the measured performance put in by Robinson and McGuinness over the past few weeks has helped matters. Although it undoubtedly will remain the case that it will be several years before Sinn Fein are anywhere near the ministry.
We are all paying for his bravery!
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/252199/The-Robinsons-married-MPs-are-making-a-family-fortune-from-politics.html
We are all paying for his bravery!
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/252199/The-Robinsons-married-MPs-are-making-a-family-fortune-from-politics.html
We are all paying for his bravery!
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/252199/The-Robinsons-married-MPs-are-making-a-family-fortune-from-politics.html
turgon.. if robinson really is trying to edge the dup towards p and j, i fear his oft quoted phrase ‘not in a political lifetime’ said in another context, [assuming that i'm correct in attributing that quote to him] jim allister could have a field day with this one. robbo going soft? surely not.