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11/11/2009
Justice D'Hondt Selection Rejected
The North's future Justice Minister will not be selected under current Assembly rules, MLAs decided last night.
An SDLP motion to implement the D'Hondt system was defeated during ten hours of debate on the devolution of policing and justice powers.
D'Hondt apportions ministerial portfolios to parties in accordance with their representation in the Assembly.
MLAs discussed the legal framework for the establishment of a local justice ministry throughout yesterday evening, however, a timescale for devolution was not decided.
A second SDLP motion for the institutions to be transfered by 7 December was also trounced.
"It's just, practically, not realistic at all," said the DUP's Simon Hamilton. "We will not be led by calendar dates."
Sinn Fein Junior Minister Gerry Kelly had earlier accused the DUP of attempting to turn the clock back, by attaching new preconditions to the process.
DUP leader, and First Minister, Peter Robinson previously called for the dissolution of the Parades Commission, which was followed by calls from Jeffrey Donaldson for the retention of the police full-time reserve.
Last night, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott would not be drawn on the political wrangling concerning reservists, insisting his decision to push through the Patton report was purely based on operational factors.
Mr Baggott said the reserves should be phased out by 2011, despite opposition from the Police Federation, which represents officers across the UK.
Junior Minister Kelly accused the DUP of bowing to Unionist hard-liners the TUV, claiming the party had sent mixed signals.
"We have to put this in the context of Arlene Foster, a DUP minister, saying that none of these issues are an obstacle to the transfer of policing and justice," he said.
"We then have Peter Robinson saying that the parades issue is an obstacle and a precondition to it. Then yesterday we have a high profile DUP member Jeffrey Donaldson saying this.
"The full-time reserve is an extra demand which is trying to turn back a clock that is not going to be turned back."
(PR/KMcA)
An SDLP motion to implement the D'Hondt system was defeated during ten hours of debate on the devolution of policing and justice powers.
D'Hondt apportions ministerial portfolios to parties in accordance with their representation in the Assembly.
MLAs discussed the legal framework for the establishment of a local justice ministry throughout yesterday evening, however, a timescale for devolution was not decided.
A second SDLP motion for the institutions to be transfered by 7 December was also trounced.
"It's just, practically, not realistic at all," said the DUP's Simon Hamilton. "We will not be led by calendar dates."
Sinn Fein Junior Minister Gerry Kelly had earlier accused the DUP of attempting to turn the clock back, by attaching new preconditions to the process.
DUP leader, and First Minister, Peter Robinson previously called for the dissolution of the Parades Commission, which was followed by calls from Jeffrey Donaldson for the retention of the police full-time reserve.
Last night, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott would not be drawn on the political wrangling concerning reservists, insisting his decision to push through the Patton report was purely based on operational factors.
Mr Baggott said the reserves should be phased out by 2011, despite opposition from the Police Federation, which represents officers across the UK.
Junior Minister Kelly accused the DUP of bowing to Unionist hard-liners the TUV, claiming the party had sent mixed signals.
"We have to put this in the context of Arlene Foster, a DUP minister, saying that none of these issues are an obstacle to the transfer of policing and justice," he said.
"We then have Peter Robinson saying that the parades issue is an obstacle and a precondition to it. Then yesterday we have a high profile DUP member Jeffrey Donaldson saying this.
"The full-time reserve is an extra demand which is trying to turn back a clock that is not going to be turned back."
(PR/KMcA)
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The North's police has released the name of the motorcyclist who died in a crash in Co Down on Sunday. He was John O'Neill, 45, from the Poleglass area died as a result of an accident on the Magheraknock Road in Ballynahinch. His bike was involved in a collision with a car shortly before 2.30pm with the road closed for a time afterwards.
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The North's police has released the name of the motorcyclist who died in a crash in Co Down on Sunday. He was John O'Neill, 45, from the Poleglass area died as a result of an accident on the Magheraknock Road in Ballynahinch. His bike was involved in a collision with a car shortly before 2.30pm with the road closed for a time afterwards.
23 August 2011
Information Sought Over Lillis Release
The controversial re-release on licence of a republican from prison in the North has continued to make the news this week. DUP MLA Paul Givan yesterday met with the Chief Parole Commissioner to discuss the circumstances surrounding the release of Brendan Lillis.
Information Sought Over Lillis Release
The controversial re-release on licence of a republican from prison in the North has continued to make the news this week. DUP MLA Paul Givan yesterday met with the Chief Parole Commissioner to discuss the circumstances surrounding the release of Brendan Lillis.
09 November 2011
'Justice' Sought In Minister's Appointment
There's a major political row brewing over the way the Department of Justice Minister is to be appointed in the future. Already, the sitting Justice Minister, Alliance Leader David Ford (pictured) has offered to resign next year so what he has called "the current compromise" can continue.
'Justice' Sought In Minister's Appointment
There's a major political row brewing over the way the Department of Justice Minister is to be appointed in the future. Already, the sitting Justice Minister, Alliance Leader David Ford (pictured) has offered to resign next year so what he has called "the current compromise" can continue.
09 February 2010
Justice Minister And Parading Talks Open
Northern political leaders will meet later this morning to discuss nominations for the position of Justice Minister. Nominations for the post officially opened yesterday, however a scheduled meeting between party leaders was postponed to allow the province's MPs to participate in a Commons discussion.
Justice Minister And Parading Talks Open
Northern political leaders will meet later this morning to discuss nominations for the position of Justice Minister. Nominations for the post officially opened yesterday, however a scheduled meeting between party leaders was postponed to allow the province's MPs to participate in a Commons discussion.
05 February 2010
DUP Backs Justice Deal
Democratic Unionist Assembly members have given their unanimous support to a deal that will see policing and justice powers devolved to the North's power-sharing government. The party's 35 MLAs backed the blueprint document following a round of late night talks at Stormont last night.
DUP Backs Justice Deal
Democratic Unionist Assembly members have given their unanimous support to a deal that will see policing and justice powers devolved to the North's power-sharing government. The party's 35 MLAs backed the blueprint document following a round of late night talks at Stormont last night.
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