South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Maskey comments on Sinn Féin Officer Board Policing and Justice Decision

Published: 15 October, 2009

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey, speaking after the Sinn Féin Officer Board, this week, agreed to accept the recommendation by the Party's Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness that the Party accept the financial package put forward by the British Government to allow the transfer of Policing and Justice Powers said,

"Sinn Féin want to see a democratically accountable civic policing service in the north. Central to this is the transfer of powers on policing and justice. This was agreed at St. Andrews.

"The Sinn Féin Officer Board met in Dublin this week to decide on a formal party response to the financial package put forward by the British Government to enable the transfer.

"Sinn Féin's approach to this negotiation has been twofold. On one hand to secure an adequate financial package for a quality frontline, civic policing service and a fair and effective justice system; and, on the other, ensuring that existing budgets for health, education and the other departments would not be affected by transfer.

"This week we received from the British government, in writing, the details of the financial package being proposed. The party Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness recommended to the Officer Board that we proceed on the basis of this financial package.

"The Officer Board accepted this recommendation and Martin McGuinness has informed the British government of this.

"The process to transfer powers should now be completed quickly." CRÍOCH