The Police (Northern Ireland) Bill received the royal assent yesterday afternoon, British government sources have confirmed.
Just two days after it completed its passage through parliament, Queen Elizabeth formally signed into law the legislation - known as the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 - replacing the Royal Ulster Constabulary with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
These formalities came amidst speculation in some London circles that leading members of the Patten Commission may be about to deliver their verdict on the Bill.
The Policing Board, which is due to commence its operations in shadow form in January, will oversee the initial advertising for recruits to the new force in March or April.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, reviewed the current nationalist/British standoff over policing with the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, last night as they travelled by RAF jet to Croatia. Also on their agenda was the forthcoming plan providing for implementation of the policing legislation, which is expected to be published early next month.
The Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, has indicated he will now postpone the deadline for nomination by the parties serving in the power-sharing Executive of their representatives to the new 19-member Policing Board until mid-December, to allow the parties an opportunity to consider the implementation plan.
While essentially operational matters will stay within the remit of the Chief Constable, there is speculation the plan will seek to give nationalists and republicans further assurances on key policing issues - including the prospective timetable for the amalgamation of the Special Branch and CID and the commencement of recruitment to the proposed part-time reserve - as well as dealing with the question of the future of the existing full-time reserve.
Joe Carroll writes from Washington:
A US congressional committee has requested President Clinton to state his view on whether the RUC reform Bill fully implements the Patten Commission recommendations.
Congress last year passed a law which bars funding for FBI training courses for the RUC unless the President certifies that the Patten recommendations have been fully implemented.