Sinn Féin postpones meeting on policing

TODAY’S MEETING of the Sinn Féin ardchomhairle (executive council) in Dublin has been postponed due to the weather, party president…

TODAY’S MEETING of the Sinn Féin ardchomhairle (executive council) in Dublin has been postponed due to the weather, party president Gerry Adams announced yesterday.

The meeting was to discuss “the growing crisis” in the North over the issue of the devolution of policing and justice powers.

Mr Adams said Sinn Féin was postponing the meeting. “Given the seriousness of what we have to discuss, it is imperative that we have the fullest attendance.”

He added: “We are totally dissatisfied with the approach taken by the DUP and this has continued in recent days. Their return to business as usual is just that. They are still refusing to honour the commitment which they made in relation to the transfer of powers on policing and justice and indeed in relation to power sharing itself.”

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Mr Adams noted it was three years ago this month since his party held a special ardfheis in relation to policing. “And for the last three years the DUP have done everything they can to prevent change from happening. Enough is enough.”.

The issues were part of the St Andrews Agreement, he added.

“The DUP signed up for that agreement. We have been in touch with both the Irish and British governments this morning and are seeking urgent meetings with them.

“It is the governments who brought forward the St Andrews Agreement and it is the governments who must now ensure that it is implemented. They are guarantors to this agreement,” he said.

Deaglán  De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún, a former Irish Times journalist, is a contributor to the newspaper