Sinn Fein believes the 'representativeness' of policing in the North is central to negotiations, writes Frank Millar, London Editor
Sinn Féin regards the British/Irish document defining "shared understanding" of the "acts of completion" necessary for the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement as the subject of ongoing negotiation.
Senior republican sources made this clear yesterday as the party president, Mr Gerry Adams, and Mr Martin McGuinness met the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in Dublin.
Mr Ahern and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, are scheduled to return to Belfast next week to conclude an anticipated deal with the pro-agreement parties.
The expectation fostered by both governments is that at that point Mr Adams will confirm the detail of radical IRA moves signalling its complete cessation as an active paramilitary organisation.
This will enable the restoration of devolution and an Ulster Unionist commitment to resume power-sharing with Sinn Féin ahead of Assembly elections scheduled for May 29th.
However, while significant progress has been made, Sinn Féin sources insist there is still "no closure" on a number of key issues - including (British) demilitarisation, policing and criminal justice reform - and that the existing proposal for sanctions against any party deemed in breach of its commitment to exclusively peaceful means remains a potential "deal breaker".
Specifically, the sources also maintained that Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness have not yet "talked to the IRA" about its likely response to British proposals, and that they would not do so until they were convinced those proposals were complete and going to be delivered.
That further changes in policing legislation, to be brought in by the British government later this week, would not be enough to have Mr Adams recommend Sinn Féin signing-up for the Policing Board in time for next weekend's ardfheis, then:
A special delegate conference would be required to conclude Sinn Féin's internal debate on policing.
There is no certainty the policing issue will be resolved before the Assembly election.
That publicly-visible IRA weapons decommissioning "is not going to happen", and that decommissioning must remain the responsibility of the International Commission.
With the dissolution of the present Assembly due on April 28th, an agreement concluded next week would seem to give the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, a desperately short time in which to overcome likely internal party opposition before joining battle with the DUP in the Assembly election. Despite this, Sinn Féin is signalling unease about the tightness of the projected April 3rd deadline, and suggesting further time for negotiations may be necessary.
The Sinn Féin sources confirmed that the "representativeness" of the policing dispensation in the North - the establishment of a policing service representative of the communities - remains central to negotiations.
While refusing to give any detail of the timescale they envisaged, the sources told The Irish Times: "What we are talking about is the introduction of a critical mass of nationalists and republicans into the PSNI and the part-time reserve, and also through lateral entry by officers [from outside forces] at the same level they presently serve in their respective forces."
Sinn Féin is also still pressing on the role of the Special Branch and the alleged "subservience" of all other branches of the PSNI to its needs; the speedy devolution of policing and justice powers; and new procedures providing for transparency and ministerial accountability for the British security establishment.
It is thought Sinn Féin proposals to change the complexion of the Northern judiciary would impact on the powers of the British Lord Chancellor in appointments to the bench.
While the British government has declared "in principle" in favour of devolving policing and justice powers, Sinn Féin claims London is seeking to "long-finger" the plan by making its detailed implementation subject to agreement by the Northern Ireland parties.