24.8.04
BBC
SF police minister to be blocked
Mr Robinson said a convicted terrorist would not be acceptable
Sinn Fein members with terrorist convictions will be blocked from holding the portfolio of policing and justice, the DUP has said.
Deputy leader Peter Robinson reiterated the party's election promise following a meeting with the Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, on Tuesday.
Intensive negotiations involving the British and Irish Governments and the political parties are to take place next month in an attempt to restore devolution.
Mr Robinson said he hoped a deal could be achieved at the talks.
The political institutions in the province were suspended in October 2002 amid allegations of IRA intelligence gathering at the Northern Ireland Office.
"What they are saying is they would be quite happy with Bairbre de Brun as minister for policing."
David Trimble
Ulster Unionist leader
"It would not be acceptable to the unionist community to have someone who is a convicted terrorist as someone who is a minister for policing and justice," Mr Robinson said.
"I think the essential element for policing and justice powers to be devolved is that the community has confidence in the way they are being exercised and in the people who exercise those powers. That is critical."
The DUP position appears to rule out Sinn Fein assembly members such as Martin McGuinness, Gerry Kelly or Raymond McCartney as a policing and justice minister in any future executive.
However, it seems to rule in the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, and assembly members Mitchell McLaughlin and Pat Doherty.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said he was taken aback by the DUP stance.
Speaking after a meeting with Paul Murphy, Mr Trimble said he found it unbelievable that the DUP would consider any Sinn Fein member for the post.
"No other party can dictate to either Sinn Fein or any other party who they should put forward."
Conor Murphy
Sinn Fein MLA
"I am surprised the DUP has said that because what they are saying is they would be quite happy with Bairbre de Brun as minister for policing.
"I think that would not be the position of the unionist electorate at all."
Sinn Fein assembly member Conor Murphy insists that when the time comes to select a minister for policing and justice, the DUP will not be dictating candidates.
"Parties decide who they want to put forward," he said.
"No other party can dictate to either Sinn Fein or any other party who they should put forward."
Mr Robinson led a DUP delegation to the talks at Hillsborough Castle that included MPs Nigel Dodds and Jeffrey Donaldson.
They also raised the issue of the police full-time reserve with Mr Murphy.
In January, the chief constable said phasing out the full-time police reserve in Northern Ireland would be subject to a further security review.
Hugh Orde said the service would not be left short staffed by plans to end the contracts of 1,600 officers by April next year.
The abolition of the full-time reserve was a recommendation of the Patten Report on police reform in Northern Ireland.
SF police minister to be blocked
Mr Robinson said a convicted terrorist would not be acceptable
Sinn Fein members with terrorist convictions will be blocked from holding the portfolio of policing and justice, the DUP has said.
Deputy leader Peter Robinson reiterated the party's election promise following a meeting with the Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, on Tuesday.
Intensive negotiations involving the British and Irish Governments and the political parties are to take place next month in an attempt to restore devolution.
Mr Robinson said he hoped a deal could be achieved at the talks.
The political institutions in the province were suspended in October 2002 amid allegations of IRA intelligence gathering at the Northern Ireland Office.
"What they are saying is they would be quite happy with Bairbre de Brun as minister for policing."
David Trimble
Ulster Unionist leader
"It would not be acceptable to the unionist community to have someone who is a convicted terrorist as someone who is a minister for policing and justice," Mr Robinson said.
"I think the essential element for policing and justice powers to be devolved is that the community has confidence in the way they are being exercised and in the people who exercise those powers. That is critical."
The DUP position appears to rule out Sinn Fein assembly members such as Martin McGuinness, Gerry Kelly or Raymond McCartney as a policing and justice minister in any future executive.
However, it seems to rule in the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, and assembly members Mitchell McLaughlin and Pat Doherty.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said he was taken aback by the DUP stance.
Speaking after a meeting with Paul Murphy, Mr Trimble said he found it unbelievable that the DUP would consider any Sinn Fein member for the post.
"No other party can dictate to either Sinn Fein or any other party who they should put forward."
Conor Murphy
Sinn Fein MLA
"I am surprised the DUP has said that because what they are saying is they would be quite happy with Bairbre de Brun as minister for policing.
"I think that would not be the position of the unionist electorate at all."
Sinn Fein assembly member Conor Murphy insists that when the time comes to select a minister for policing and justice, the DUP will not be dictating candidates.
"Parties decide who they want to put forward," he said.
"No other party can dictate to either Sinn Fein or any other party who they should put forward."
Mr Robinson led a DUP delegation to the talks at Hillsborough Castle that included MPs Nigel Dodds and Jeffrey Donaldson.
They also raised the issue of the police full-time reserve with Mr Murphy.
In January, the chief constable said phasing out the full-time police reserve in Northern Ireland would be subject to a further security review.
Hugh Orde said the service would not be left short staffed by plans to end the contracts of 1,600 officers by April next year.
The abolition of the full-time reserve was a recommendation of the Patten Report on police reform in Northern Ireland.
