Senior British and Irish ministers took advantage of the annual British-Irish Association conference yesterday to begin the drive to persuade Northern Ireland politicians to accept the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Executive.
The Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward and the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan made clear that their preferred wish is to see the transfer of these powers from Westminster to Stormont by the St Andrews Agreement target date of next May, without specifically insisting on it.
The association has met annually since 1972, alternately in Cambridge and Oxford, bringing politicians, church leaders, business people, academics, journalists and others together to discuss Northern Ireland privately. This year's theme is, "Towards a Shared Future - Building on Political Agreement".
The main stumbling block to the devolution of justice is the DUP. It has insisted that it is not tied to May.
Junior minister Ian Paisley jnr went further recently, implying it could not happen in the lifetime of this Assembly.
Under the St Andrews Agreement it is expected that there would be one or two ministers dealing with justice and policing but, initially, neither the DUP nor Sinn Féin would hold the post.
Transferring justice powers is the main challenge facing the new Northern Secretary, Mr Woodward said.
He realised that if not managed carefully it could open up divisions within the DUP, and within the Executive.
He said that work is under way to ensure the effective creation of an Executive department of justice "when local politicians decide the time is right".
He added that it was "clear that the public wants the business of devolution to be fully completed. And that means local politicians taking on the responsibility of policing and criminal justice."
Mr Woodward said the people of Northern Ireland wanted the full package of devolution. "The coming months will help build community confidence as local politicians continue to work together," he said.
"It is my responsibility to ensure we can meet the obligations on us to meet the request from the Assembly to devolve policing and justice. That work is well in hand and will continue."
Mr Lenihan said the transfer of these powers "due to take place in May next year, should be the capstone of this process".
"It is right that the people of Northern Ireland have ownership of these issues and there is no reason, given all the powers already devolved, that it should not happen on schedule. The achievements of policing and justice reform should be strengthened by devolution," he added.
"I believe that devolution of policing and justice will also bring even further opportunities for effective cross-Border co-operation in everyone's interest," said Mr Lenihan.
The Minister also told the conference that acceptable means of dealing with the past must be found. He added that there could be no further toleration of paramilitarism in society.
"All remaining paramilitarism that feeds, and feeds off, division must end. It has no place in the future of Northern Ireland. The people of Northern Ireland, and of these islands, have no patience left for those who still see a space for violence, or the threat of it."
