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18/11/2008
Taoiseach Welcomes End Of North Stalemate
Brian Cowen has welcomed the end of the five month political stalemate in the North.
Sinn Fein and the DUP have announced today they had finally agreed a deal for the devolution of policing and justice powers from London to Stormont.
Sinn Fein had boycotted the Assembly and governmental meetings due to the decision by the DUP to block the transferral of policing and justice powers.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the successful devolution of policing and justice powers would be the final piece of the jigsaw of the peace process.
Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin, seconded Mr Cowen's welcoming of the resolution, saying the agreement was an important step for Northern Ireland in moving away from the difficulties of the past and becoming a fully normalised society.
The deal doesn't yet amount to a timetable, but there are commitments to appoint an Attorney General by 2012.
Temporary arrangements for electing a Justice Minister will be in place until the permanent appointment rules are made by May 2012.
In a joint letter from the DUP and Sinn Fein party leaders to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, Mr Robinson and Mr McGuiness said: "We have agreed certain arrangements for the discharge of policing and justice functions by the Assembly."
A new independent department to be known as the Department of Justice will take up the powers, and the ministers will meet with the NIO and the Prime Minister to discuss funding for the new body.
(DW)
Sinn Fein and the DUP have announced today they had finally agreed a deal for the devolution of policing and justice powers from London to Stormont.
Sinn Fein had boycotted the Assembly and governmental meetings due to the decision by the DUP to block the transferral of policing and justice powers.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the successful devolution of policing and justice powers would be the final piece of the jigsaw of the peace process.
Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin, seconded Mr Cowen's welcoming of the resolution, saying the agreement was an important step for Northern Ireland in moving away from the difficulties of the past and becoming a fully normalised society.
The deal doesn't yet amount to a timetable, but there are commitments to appoint an Attorney General by 2012.
Temporary arrangements for electing a Justice Minister will be in place until the permanent appointment rules are made by May 2012.
In a joint letter from the DUP and Sinn Fein party leaders to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, Mr Robinson and Mr McGuiness said: "We have agreed certain arrangements for the discharge of policing and justice functions by the Assembly."
A new independent department to be known as the Department of Justice will take up the powers, and the ministers will meet with the NIO and the Prime Minister to discuss funding for the new body.
(DW)
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17 October 2008
Cowen To Meet Northern Ireland Leaders For Talks
The Irish Taoiseach is to meet the North's First Minister, Peter Robinson, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in separate meetings in Dublin on Friday. Brian Cowen will discuss the current impasse between the two leading parties, Sinn Féin and the DUP, over the devolution of policing and justice powers.
Cowen To Meet Northern Ireland Leaders For Talks
The Irish Taoiseach is to meet the North's First Minister, Peter Robinson, and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness in separate meetings in Dublin on Friday. Brian Cowen will discuss the current impasse between the two leading parties, Sinn Féin and the DUP, over the devolution of policing and justice powers.
13 April 2010
New Era For North's Policing Begins
As the North's Policing Board welcomed devolution of the last powers to Stormont yesterday, the newly installed Justice Minister David Ford has said that his appointment heralds a new era.
New Era For North's Policing Begins
As the North's Policing Board welcomed devolution of the last powers to Stormont yesterday, the newly installed Justice Minister David Ford has said that his appointment heralds a new era.
05 January 2010
Devolution Stalemate Prompts Cross Border Meeting
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin is to meet the Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward to discuss the delay in the North's devolution.
Devolution Stalemate Prompts Cross Border Meeting
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin is to meet the Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward to discuss the delay in the North's devolution.
30 November 2009
Cowen And Brown Hold Justice Talks
Brian Cowen has flown to London in a bid to break the continued deadlock over the devolution of policing and justice powers to the North's Assembly. He will meet with UK counterpart Gordon Brown in Downing Street later, amid mounting conflict between the province's two largest political parties.
Cowen And Brown Hold Justice Talks
Brian Cowen has flown to London in a bid to break the continued deadlock over the devolution of policing and justice powers to the North's Assembly. He will meet with UK counterpart Gordon Brown in Downing Street later, amid mounting conflict between the province's two largest political parties.
13 April 2010
Ford Welcomed As Justice Minister
The Dublin Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, has welcomed David Ford's election yesterday to the position of Minister of Justice in the devolved Stormont Executive. The Alliance leader is the first local politician to take responsibility for justice and policing in 38 years.
Ford Welcomed As Justice Minister
The Dublin Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, has welcomed David Ford's election yesterday to the position of Minister of Justice in the devolved Stormont Executive. The Alliance leader is the first local politician to take responsibility for justice and policing in 38 years.
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