New policing powers for Northern Ireland
Updated on 09 March 2010
The Northern Ireland Assembly votes in favour of the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster today, despite opposition from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).
The vote underpins the Hillsborough Agreement brokered between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein to stabilise the region's power-sharing government.
The Assembly decision followed an acrimonious debate in which the Ulster Unionists resisted pressure to support the move, which will now lead to the creation of a Department of Justice for Northern Ireland after the powers are devolved by April 12.
Out of the 105 votes cast, a total of 88 were in support of the move, with only the UUP voting against.
Earlier today Martin McGuinness accused the Ulster Unionists of opposing a deal to devolve policing powers to Northern Ireland for cynical party political reasons, as a crunch debate on the transfer begins at Stormont.
The Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister criticised the UUP's stance as he tabled a motion that, if passed, will see justice responsibilities handed over to the power-sharing administration in April.
The UUP was the only party that has signalled its intention to vote against the proposals outlined in the landmark Hillsborough Agreement, insisting the Stormont Executive is not operating effectively enough to warrant taking on the powers.
"The UUP declared last night that they will not support this resolution," said Mr McGuinness.
"That saddens and disappoints me, they are opposed in my view to the transfer for cynical party political reasons."
Hours before the Deputy First Minister turned on his unionist rivals, the widow of a police officer murdered by dissident republicans made a dramatic plea today for all politicians to back the deal.
Kate Carroll, whose husband Pc Stephen Carroll was shot dead by the Continuity IRA a year ago today, said all parties should back the plan.
In a surprise call to a radio show, she said: "This morning has been very, very hard for me, and I would just ask everyone in Stormont to please get on with their job."
The UUP was under international pressure to back the deal.
Former US president George Bush phoned Conservative leader David Cameron asking him to intervene, given the Tory Party's electoral pact with the Ulster Unionists in Northern Ireland.
But today Mrs Carroll told the UUP: "I am pleading on this day that is so important to me that it's not worth it. Life is too short. It is heartbreaking that I have to get on this morning to please ask the politicians to get on with their job."
The UUP has claimed the executive must sort out other outstanding matters - such as the long-standing row over post-primary school transfer arrangements - before it can take on law and order functions.
Mr McGuinness questioned the logic of this stance as he commended the Hillsborough deal to the Assembly.
"The UUP are on record as stating that they will not support the election of a local minister to oversee the administration of policing and justice until there is agreement to test 10 and 11-year-old children to determine which school they will attend," he said.
"I have to say that these are the most dysfunctional political positions I have ever come across."
He added: "The Hillsborough Agreement provided an opportunity for a new start.
"The process we are engaged in is one in which no one single party can dominate and control, it is one which we must all work together for the common good, it is one which we must work together to maintain the political stability which will deliver prosperity, quality public services and investment.
"I acknowledge that this is a challenge to us all but it is one to which we all must rise. We need to put aside party political posturing and to begin an era of joint and equal working."
