Northern Ireland's politicians face the challenge in the New Year of deciding if they are ready to take control of policing and justice in the province, Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said today.
In his New Year message Mr Woodward said the completion of devolution would be a another crucial step for people in the North and the government stood ready to devolve the remaining powers in May.
"The people of Northern Ireland want peace for their children and to be at ease with their neighbours. They want to concentrate on the things that really matter: their health and well-being, their prosperity, their future.
"And they expect the political parties to finish the job of devolution and devolve policing and justice powers to the Assembly," he said.
Mr Woodward added: "It is for the parties to decide when the time is right, but the government will be ready to make the transfer of powers next May as envisaged in the St Andrews Agreement."
Only when devolution was completed could Northern Ireland's full potential realised, he added.
"When Northern Ireland's politicians have the shared confidence to take over the full range of devolved powers the rest of the world will know that they have truly broken away from the past and are intent on building a new and better future," said the Secretary of State.
He said he hoped the parties would embrace the challenge and work together to complete the process of devolution which had begun with such pace and promise.
Looking back on 2007 he said by any standards it had been a momentous year and there had been extraordinary progress since May 8th when devolution was restored and Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness launched the power-sharing government at Stormont.
"These events were viewed with optimism across the world, and the leadership shown by Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness has provided real hope that, however intractable they may seem, conflicts can be resolved and different traditions can work together for a better future."
PA