Sinn Féin took a decisive step towards full involvement in democratic politics last night by agreeing to hold a special ardfheis next month to endorse a motion calling for support for the police services on both sides of the Border, write Stephen Collins, Michael O'Reganand Dan Keenan
After a six-hour meeting of the Sinn Féin ardcomhairle in Dublin, party president Gerry Adams was given the go-ahead to convene an ardfheis on policing.
A motion to go before delegates, which was passed by more than two-thirds of the ardcomhairle, is expected to call for the devolution of policing and justice powers to a powersharing executive and will also call for support for the PSNI, An Garda Síochána and the criminal justice system.
Welcoming the decision, the Taoiseach said the ardfheis would be a defining moment in the peace process. "This is clearly a landmark and timely decision and I welcome it," said Bertie Ahern.
"With the issue of Sinn Féin support for policing definitively resolved, the door will be open for the full restoration of the Executive in March, as envisaged in the St Andrews Agreement," he added.
His comments came as Mr Adams expressed disappointment at what he said was "the very limited" part played by the Irish Government in the negotiations on policing.
"I think the main focus has to be on what we have done to date. But I would be dishonest if I did not say, certainly in relation to Sinn Féin, that the Irish Government's role has been very limited and a matter of grave disappointment for me. And I have told the Taoiseach," he said.
Nonetheless, he maintained that profound changes had been secured, particularly in intensive talks with the British government over the past number of weeks.
Mr Adams said that on foot of those changes, the special ardfheis would be convened and, if others, including the two governments and the DUP, responded positively, it would take place in January.
He added that the motion would be made public in the coming days, when it had been distributed to Sinn Féin members throughout the country. Included in the motion, he said, was a commitment to: devolution of policing and justice to the assembly; support for the police services, the Garda and the PSNI and criminal justice system; the appointment of party representatives to the policing board and district partnership policing boards; and the authorisation of Sinn Féin ministers to take the ministerial pledge of office.
The motion would also express total opposition to any involvement of MI5 in civic policing, opposition to the use of plastic bullets; and ensuring there was no place in the PSNI for those guilty of human rights abuses.
Mr Adams said that in the run-up to the ardfheis, the party leadership would conduct a widespread debate within the party. This is to be led by Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald.
It would also hold a series of meetings with the wider republican and nationalist community, including the families of "our patriot dead and victims of state murder and collusion".
British prime minister Tony Blair's spokesman said last night that what was important in Mr Adams's statement was the "unequivocal and unconditional nature" of the commitment to support the police. "For the first time we have a real prospect of cross-community, cross-party support for policing," he added.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the potential for the restoration of a powersharing executive had been created and he urged the DUP to recognise this as a positive step and await the outcome of the ardfheis.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte welcomed the decision but said it was overdue. "In this regard it is essential that the decision to be made by the ardfheis demonstrates clear and unconditional support for the reformed system of policing now in operation in Northern Ireland. The time for equivocation is over."
Ian Paisley jnr said what was needed was "quality delivery" from Sinn Féin.