Sinn Féin has indicated it may not be able to sign up to the new policing arrangements in Northern Ireland before Assembly elections on May 29th.
Sinn Féin has indicated it may not be able to sign up to the new policing arrangements in Northern Ireland before Assembly elections on May 29th.
A reliable Sinn Féin source has told The Irish Times that acceptance of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, membership of the Policing Board, and support for the new dispensation on policing - which the British government regards as an "act of completion" - is still the subject of ongoing negotiations.
The governments, however, say that the time for major renegotiation of the package is over.
The Sinn Féin source added that even if discussions with the two governments were to be concluded successfully soon, there may not be enough time for the party leadership to consult grassroots members and ensure unity within the republican movement on a new position before the election campaign gets into full swing.
This indicates that campaigning for elections to the Assembly, suspended since October 14th last, could take place in an atmosphere of some uncertainty, with Sinn Féin still discussing its position on policing.
The unionist response to this development is yet to emerge.
Mr Tony Blair and Mr Ahern are still expected to return for talks at Hillsborough before Easter and to publish their detailed plans which they hope will lead to the restoration of devolution.
Party president Mr Gerry Adams told the Sinn Féin ardfheis at the weekend that a further, special ardfheis would be convened to ratify any new position on policing. This would take place after a thorough consultation process at all levels of Sinn Féin was conducted.
But he added: "We are not yet in a position to contemplate convening this. If we do so, it is my intention that a position paper would go to all levels of the party for discussion - that is, the party membership as a whole, and that there would be a comprehensive debate leading up to the special ardfheis."
The weekend ardfheis discussed several motions on policing. These included a call for a bar on any Sinn Féin membership of the Policing Board in advance of a British withdrawal, which was defeated.
However, the leadership, mindful of the depth of feeling on the question, appears to prefer a medium-term approach to consultation with members in an effort to secure the widest possible endorsement of any new position.
The Irish and British governments remain emphatic, at least in public, that the postponed Stormont election will go ahead on May 29th. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, told the Dáil last week he would not entertain talk of further delay.
A well-placed British government source told The Irish Times last night: "The date is set, so is our position."
Other "acts of completion" seem certain not be concluded within the next eight weeks. Demilitarisation, the British government says, will take some time to deliver, although a clear signal that it will "normalise" the military presence will be given.