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02/10/2009
Brown Belfast Bound On Policing
Gordon Brown will arrive in Belfast next week in a bid to end the emerging deadlock over policing and justice devolution.
The Prime Minister's decision to intervene directly in the matter comes amid simmering tensions between Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.
Relations between the pair worsened this week when Deputy First Minister Mr McGuinness accused the First Minister of getting "cold feet" over the transfer of judicial powers to the Assembly.
Mr Robinson refused to respond to Mr McGuinness's criticism, suggesting he knew how it would be played out in the media.
The Deputy First Minister has continued to insist the installation of a local policing and justice department should be progressed as soon as possible.
However, the First Minister is adamant budgetary arrangements are still not satisfactory.
Speaking yesterday, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said the new devolved Stormont institutions would fill "the final part of the jigsaw".
He said a locally run security department would "send a signal of confidence to the world".
Both Mr Woodward and Deputy First Minister have suggested an agreement would bolster inward investment.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell dismissed the claims, adding he has never met a foreign investor interested in the policing and justice system within Northern Ireland.
SDLP Leader Mark Durkan called on the Office of First and Deputy First Minister to end its wrangling.
"These Peter and Martin soap opera episodes must end before they end up like Peter and Katie," he said.
The Prime Minister will arrive in the province on Monday and is expected to meet with all party leaders.
See: NI First Ministers Clash
(PR/BMcC)
The Prime Minister's decision to intervene directly in the matter comes amid simmering tensions between Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.
Relations between the pair worsened this week when Deputy First Minister Mr McGuinness accused the First Minister of getting "cold feet" over the transfer of judicial powers to the Assembly.
Mr Robinson refused to respond to Mr McGuinness's criticism, suggesting he knew how it would be played out in the media.
The Deputy First Minister has continued to insist the installation of a local policing and justice department should be progressed as soon as possible.
However, the First Minister is adamant budgetary arrangements are still not satisfactory.
Speaking yesterday, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said the new devolved Stormont institutions would fill "the final part of the jigsaw".
He said a locally run security department would "send a signal of confidence to the world".
Both Mr Woodward and Deputy First Minister have suggested an agreement would bolster inward investment.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell dismissed the claims, adding he has never met a foreign investor interested in the policing and justice system within Northern Ireland.
SDLP Leader Mark Durkan called on the Office of First and Deputy First Minister to end its wrangling.
"These Peter and Martin soap opera episodes must end before they end up like Peter and Katie," he said.
The Prime Minister will arrive in the province on Monday and is expected to meet with all party leaders.
See: NI First Ministers Clash
(PR/BMcC)
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Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered showers of rain, sleet and, over hills, snow in the morning with sunny spells, the best of these in the south. The showers dying out this afternoon with increasing amounts of sunshine. Occasionally fresh westerly or northwesterly winds easing. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Clear start with a fairly widespread frost developing. Increasing cloud brings occasionally heavy rain overnight, preceded, especially over western hills, briefly by snow. Occasional southeasterly gales, severe near coasts, developing. Minimum temperature -2 °C.
