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17/09/2001
Nationalists meet for police talks with Cowen
A Sinn Féin delegation led by Gerry Kelly has met with Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen in Dublin to discuss the outstanding issues on policing.
The delegation which included Gerry Kelly (North Belfast), Dr Dara O’Hagan (Upper Bann), and Dublin councillors Aengus O’Snodaigh and Sean Crowe met Mr Cowen in Iveagh House on Monday 17 September.
The meeting was called, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said, to address concerns on policing and issues surrounding the forthcoming Criminal Justice review, and the dispute at Holy Cross Primary School in Ardoyne.
With the deadline for parties to accept the new policing plan five days away, the SDLP are the only party who have signed up to the revised policing plan. Sinn Féin have rejected the plan and the Ulster Unionists and the Democratic Unionists have both declined sign up to the plan.
Speaking following the meeting Mr Kelly said: “The Good Friday Agreement requires a new beginning to policing. That is a policing service, which is representative, free from partisan political control and accountable. The British government Policing Act does not meet these requirements or the requirements of the Patten report.
“No one is claiming that we have required the new beginning – not the British government and certainly not the Irish government or the SDLP. All accept that there is a gap to be closed, even if there is disagreement on exactly what constitutes that gap.
“The SDLP and the Irish government’s support for the British government’s policing proposals have effectively sundered the broad consensus that had emerged on this issue – based on a desire to see the Patten recommendations fully implemented. This is a matter of grave disappointment.”
Meanwhile the Secretary of State announced that he is seeking nominations to the 19-member police board. The UUP, SDLP, SF and DUP are entitled to 10 places between them, with nine seats allocated to independents. Over the next three days, interviews will be held for the nine independent positions. (AMcE)
The delegation which included Gerry Kelly (North Belfast), Dr Dara O’Hagan (Upper Bann), and Dublin councillors Aengus O’Snodaigh and Sean Crowe met Mr Cowen in Iveagh House on Monday 17 September.
The meeting was called, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said, to address concerns on policing and issues surrounding the forthcoming Criminal Justice review, and the dispute at Holy Cross Primary School in Ardoyne.
With the deadline for parties to accept the new policing plan five days away, the SDLP are the only party who have signed up to the revised policing plan. Sinn Féin have rejected the plan and the Ulster Unionists and the Democratic Unionists have both declined sign up to the plan.
Speaking following the meeting Mr Kelly said: “The Good Friday Agreement requires a new beginning to policing. That is a policing service, which is representative, free from partisan political control and accountable. The British government Policing Act does not meet these requirements or the requirements of the Patten report.
“No one is claiming that we have required the new beginning – not the British government and certainly not the Irish government or the SDLP. All accept that there is a gap to be closed, even if there is disagreement on exactly what constitutes that gap.
“The SDLP and the Irish government’s support for the British government’s policing proposals have effectively sundered the broad consensus that had emerged on this issue – based on a desire to see the Patten recommendations fully implemented. This is a matter of grave disappointment.”
Meanwhile the Secretary of State announced that he is seeking nominations to the 19-member police board. The UUP, SDLP, SF and DUP are entitled to 10 places between them, with nine seats allocated to independents. Over the next three days, interviews will be held for the nine independent positions. (AMcE)
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