Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Positive step taken in transferring policing and justice powers to the North - Murphy

Published: 31 July, 2009

Commenting after an executive meeting which agreed to put new legislation on the transfer of policing and justice to the assembly in the autumn, Sinn Féin MP for Newry/Armagh, Conor Murphy has said that another positive step has been taken in order to fully transfer policing and justice powers to the North.

The proposed legisilation would lead to the creation of a department of justice and a new minister by cross-community vote.

Speaking after the meeting Conor Murphy said,

"This is another positive step in transferring policing and justice powers to the North of Ireland. This is an extremely important issue and the achievement of this will remain the focus of Sinn Féin into the future.

However Mr Murphy also expressed his disappointed that SDLP minister Margaret Ritchie has said her party will oppose the legislation.

"Before the assembly was restored in 2007 the SDLP repeatedly stated that power sharing between the DUP and Sinn Féin would never last. Now, two and a half years later, the assembly and the executive is still working and delivering for the people of the six counties.

"Not once during any talks or negotiations did the SDLP demand the transfer of policing powers. Indeed after the Mandelson policing legislation they declared that no further policing legislation would be possible. Never during their period as leaders in the executive did they seek to put in place a mechanism to allow the transfer of powers on policing and justice. Such was their blind approach that the issue wasn't even on their radar.

"In this light I find Margaret Ritichie's comments extremely disappointing and counterproductive."