US SECRETARY of state Hillary Clinton made clear in Belfast yesterday that she hopes to see the speedy devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Executive.
Mrs Clinton, in an address to the Northern Assembly, said she was conscious of the difference between being supportive and meddling but nonetheless “as a true friend” she hoped Northern Ireland politicians would “complete the process of devolution”.
Her visit coincided with further movement on policing and justice with British prime minister Gordon Brown sending First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness written details of the financial package the British government will provide to support a Northern department of justice. The DUP officer board welcomed the proposals last night. Mr Brown is due to meet Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness for more talks on the issue this evening at Downing Street. “We believe the package would provide a sound underpinning for a department of justice,” said a senior British government source.
Mrs Clinton led a large US entourage to Belfast yesterday that included senior officials, leading US business people and her special economic envoy to Northern Ireland, Declan Kelly, for political, business and social events at Stormont, Queen’s University and Belfast City Hall.
There was no major US jobs announcement for Northern Ireland from Mrs Clinton yesterday, although she looked forward to new opportunities emerging in the future. Mr McGuinness when recently linking US investment with devolving policing and justice spoke of a potential imminent significant announcement on the jobs front from the US.
Mrs Clinton did not overtly make the investment-devolution of justice link but there was no doubting that she was following the line of the British and Irish governments, and of Sinn Féin, that the transfer of these powers should take place speedily and that this could lead to an American investment dividend. Policing and justice are understood to have featured prominently when Mrs Clinton held 90 minutes of talks at Stormont Castle.
She separately met senior DUP and Sinn Féin political delegations led respectively by Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, and then met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister together.
During the day Mrs Clinton spoke of how the political process was a journey that was not yet over. “I am here to send a strong message that the Obama administration is committed to supporting you as you continue your journey,” she said outside Stormont Castle.
Mr Robinson told her that politicians here were committed to the “long haul” of making politics work.
Mr McGuinness said this was a time for “facing up to the challenges that clearly face us”.
Mrs Clinton then addressed a packed Assembly chamber at nearby Parliament Buildings.
“Now, we know what it means to be supportive and we also know what it means to meddle,” she said in carefully crafted comments.
“And I want to be clear that when it comes to the important issue of devolution, of policing and justice, that is a decision for this assembly to make,” she added.
“But as a true friend, my hope is that you will achieve what you have set out to do, to complete the process of devolution.”
She encouraged the politicians to move forward with a spirit of unstoppable grit and resolve. “And I pledge that the United States will be behind you all the way, as you work toward peace and stability that lasts.”
The only controversial note came at the end of her Assembly speech. DUP MLAs Gregory Campbell and the Rev William McCrea, viewed as sceptical of the current powersharing arrangements, left the chamber as she was being accorded a standing ovation.