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

Murphy welcomes Hillsborough Agreement

Published: 11 February, 2010

Sinn Féin MP for Newry/Armagh Conor Murphy has welcomed the agreement reached at Hillsborough Castle last week. Mr Murphy who played a leading role in Sinn Féin's negotiating team throughout the talks said;

"Republicans throughout Ireland have been very patient not only over recent weeks but over recent years with regard to the vital issue of policing. A date has now finally been set for the long overdue transfer of policing and justice powers from London to Belfast. That is a major achievement and it will also be a major challenge to ensure that policing services are delivered equitably and efficiently for all communities and that the justice system is independent and fully rights-based.

"I welcome especially the commitment to work on the outstanding issues from the St. Andrew's Agreement. That must include completion and full working of the all-Ireland structures, including the North-South Parliamentary Forum. Just last Thursday in the Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee in the Oireachtas Sinn Féin representatives discussed the progress being made in all-Ireland co-operation on education and how so much more can yet be done.

"Our representatives also raised issues of ensuring increased mobility on cross border educational issues with Ministers Caitríona Ruane and Batt O Keefe. This same approach applies to areas like health, transport, employment creation, agriculture and shows the need for fully operational all-Ireland structures.

"The agreement reached at Hillsborough will also mean that several vacated British military sites throughout the North will now be transferred to the Executive.

"The real test of this Agreement will be how it delivers improvements in the daily life condition of ordinary people, not only in the Six Counties but across this island."