Fresh tensions emerged tonight between unionists and republicans in Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government.
The leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein issued statements hitting out at how efforts to devolve policing and justice powers to the Stormont Assembly are being handled.
It comes as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is involved in talks with the parties on concluding the process.
Sinn Féin has pressed for rapid progress in transferring the powers that would effectively see republicans and unionists share responsibility for the region’s justice system for the first time.
Mr Brown has offered a £1 billion package to fund the move, as well as agreeing to establish a £20 million fund for part-time police officers who were once part of the former Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
But while both moves were seen as meeting demands set by DUP leader Peter Robinson, the Northern Ireland First Minister tonight said his party was unhappy at a decision on Friday to lay-off police reservists in the current Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The newly installed PSNI chief constable Matt Baggott confirmed he will proceed with the move, which forms part of the ongoing reforms of policing in Northern Ireland.
But while he stated he did not believe the move would weaken his force’s ability to handle the violent threat of dissident republicans opposed to the peace process, Mr Robinson hit out at the plan.
The DUP leader tonight said: “If the Chief Constable’s remarks, as set out on Friday, are the whole story then the position is totally unacceptable and will undermine confidence to such an extent that it will damage progress.”
This came as Sinn Féin warned the government not to allow unionists in Northern Ireland to block a deal on devolving policing and justice powers to the region’s Assembly.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams tonight said: “The efforts of the DUP to tie other matters to the policing and justice issue is unacceptable. The DUP is in breach of the commitments it entered into at St Andrews.”
He accused the party of reneging on commitments contained in the St Andrews agreement that paved the way for the power-sharing government and said the DUP was eroding confidence in the Assembly at a time when politicians should be working together for the benefit of all.
Mr Adams said: “The democratic imperative is for a speedy conclusion and progress on the policing and justice issue.
"Anything less by the DUP leadership is a derogation of their responsibility to the people of the north and of the entire island.”
Earlier today Sinn Féin claimed that the DUP was being influenced by hardliners within unionism who are opposed to any accommodation with republicans.
Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy addressed a republican commemoration today and accused the DUP of seeking to place obstacles in the way of agreement on policing and justice.
“The DUP are also seeking legal weapons for former UDR (Ulster Defence Regiment) and RUC members,” he said.
“Isn’t it ironic that those who held-up the political process for years over the issue of getting rid of weapons now want to hold it up again to bring back weapons?”
Mr Murphy said: “What is worse than this conduct by the DUP is that they are being indulged by the British government.
“Gordon Brown must re-commit to the Good Friday [Belfast] Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement and he must not allow obstructionist tactics to further delay long overdue progress on policing and justice.
“No other approach is acceptable from the British government. And no other approach is acceptable to Sinn Féin.”
PA