Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, has said that a British government commitment to transfer responsibility for policing and criminal justice to the Northern Executive would be a "huge step forward" in terms of whether the party might endorse the new policing dispensation. Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor, reports.
As talks designed to trigger autumn Assembly elections and the restoration of devolution continue, Mr McGuinness yesterday focused on the requirement to see policing and justice powers transferred from Westminster to Stormont.
"We want to see during the lifetime of the next Assembly those powers on criminal justice and policing transferred to a local administration in the North which is accountable to the Assembly, and through the elected representatives to the people," said Mr McGuinness.
Such a commitment is already contained in the Hillsborough joint declaration should the IRA carry out the "acts of completion" required by the British and Irish governments.
Mr McGuinness said were the commitment put into practice it would be a "huge step forward". Any decision on Sinn Féin joining the Policing Board must be endorsed by a party ardfheis. The transfer of these powers "would be a very encouraging step forward".
The Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, meanwhile said he is to hold another and fourth meeting in his current round of talks with the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble.
"It's part of the network of discussions that are going on. I happen to think that it is a very, very important part of it, and in many ways, arguably, the most important part of it."
While encouraged by the continuing contact, the British and Irish governments remain cautious on the prospects of a breakthrough that could lead to elections and a return to government at Stormont.
"We haven't got to the difficult bit yet where the main parties, particularly republicans and Ulster Unionists, are asked to state what they can deliver," said one London source.
There is some concern in London and Dublin by the remarks of Mr Adams yesterday and on Tuesday that the governments "need to be reasonable and rational about what is do-able at this time".
Mr Adams would not be specific when asked yesterday did this indicate problems over what the IRA might deliver.
And neither would Mr Adams be drawn on possible signals that the IRA would be prepared to wind down.