Members of the Stormont committee examining the devolution of policing powers from Westminster today demanded to see the financial deal pledged by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown before it supports the move.
First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness are due to hold talks in Downing Street later today amid speculation that Sinn Féin and the DUP are close to agreeing a deal on policing and justice.
But the North's Assembly and Executive Review Committee has requested that Democratic Unionist Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness release details of Mr Brown’s offer without delay.
SDLP representative on the ad hoc body Alex Attwood said it was unacceptable that Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness had briefed their own parties on the contents of the package but had not yet informed Assembly members whose responsibility it was to look into the transfer of law and order functions.
“We now have a situation where OFMDFM (Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister) negotiated this on behalf of the assembly and have now agreed that the first port of call will be their own parties and not the Assembly and Executive Review committee,” he said.
“I just don’t think that’s a balanced and proper way to do business.”
Mr Brown tabled the offer to the two leaders at the end of last week after days of protracted negotiations to resolve the long-running wrangle over the politically sensitive move.
While it is understood Sinn Féin is poised to formally accept the package, Mr Robinson insists he will not be rushed and still needs clarification on certain aspects of it.
Earlier today Northern Ireland police chiefs said while they had not seen details of the deal they were encouraged with the progress made toward reaching a settlement.
Mr Attwood’s proposal asking for sight of the offer was agreed by majority vote with the DUP and Ulster Unionist members of the committee backing his request.
Sinn Féin, however, opposed the suggestion.
Alex Maskey said the committee had no right to make demands on the two ministers to release documents that had been sent to them.
“We may wish to ask them to share the substance with us but we can’t direct them,” he said.
He stressed that it was the First and Deputy First ministers who had the responsibility to take forward the negotiations with Downing Street and not the committee.
Mr Attwood acknowledged his point but added: “They shouldn’t be allowed to take this forward without our involvement.”
Former DUP Finance Minister Nigel Dodds said it was important that all the parties in the Assembly knew what was on offer.
“Ultimately there needs to be buy-in from everybody before there is a settlement,” he said.
“That’s clear and must be the case.” Alan McFarland, a UUP representative on the committee, said it appeared that every branch of the criminal justice system was being briefed on the details while he and his colleagues were still left in the dark.
“It seems this has been shared with everyone else in the criminal justice system and not the assembly,” he said.
“But that’s the way the DUP and Sinn Fein have been doing business since the very beginning.” Earlier Judith Gillespie, Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said her new boss Matt Baggott had not seen the report but had been kept up to date with the progress of talks.
“The Chief Constable has not had sight of the details of the settlement for the devolution of policing and justice,” she said.
“However, we can state that we are encouraged by the progress to date and we look forward to working with the Northern Ireland Policing Board on taking the proposal forward.”
First Minister Robinson wants the offer rubber stamped by Conservative leader David Cameron as he could be in Downing Street within months.
He also wants discussions with police chief Baggott and David Lavery, director of the Northern Ireland Court Service, before making his decision.
Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward updated Cabinet on progress in the negotiations at the regular weekly meeting of ministers at 10 Downing Street this morning.
Mr Woodward and Mr Brown are to hold further talks with leaders of the Northern Ireland parties in Downing Street later today.
PA