THE STORMONT Assembly was last night expected to pass a report on the planned devolution of policing and justice. The Assembly and Executive Review Committee, which has been considering proposals on the transfer of policing powers, has put 15 recommendations for consultation.
However, committee chairman Jimmy Spratt said that the report addressed some but not all of the outstanding issues before a request to Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward is made for the transfer of policing and justice powers. He confirmed that the new department would be known as the department of justice and would be in addition to the existing 11 departments which make up the Executive.
He could give the Assembly no definite target date for the planned devolution.
Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey said the proposals contained in the report would help ensure more open, accountable and effective delivery of policing and justice.
Ulster Unionist Alan McFarland criticised the DUP, claiming its insistence on “unionist confidence” merely amounted to some form of guarantee that no senior Sinn Féin member with a criminal record would become minister for justice. SDLP member Carmel Hanna said the issue had not been advanced meaningfully and she accused Sinn Féin of handing over a veto on the issue to the DUP.
Alliance leader David Ford said there were “massive issues” around the question of finance while the SDLP’s Alex Attwood accused Sinn Féin and the DUP of failing to make it clear when powers would be transferred.