Commenting on today’s meeting between Peter Robinson and the Prime Minister to discuss policing and justice TUV Vice-chairman Keith Harbinson said:

“Peter Robinson’s recent pronouncements on policing and justice have made it clear that the DUP now see the major outstanding issue as one of finance. This was not always the case. In May 2006 the current deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Nigel Dodds, told the Commons:

“The prospects of reaching that situation, in which we would consider proposals for the Northern Ireland Assembly on the issue of devolution of policing and justice, are remote. In fact, they are so remote that it is difficult to envisage when it might happen.” 

“The party no longer appears to be concerned about the continued existence of the IRA Army Council. Nor are they fazed by the prospect of devolving such powers to an Assembly and Executive where Republicans hold sway. Remember, in a recent debate on the future of the Full-Time Reserve Martina Anderson described the force as “little more than a unionist militia” which “has been to the forefront of attacks on the nationalist community.” This outrageous slur on the name of those who time and time again put their lives on the line to protect both communities in Northern Ireland does not, in my option, help to build confidence in the community that policing and justice powers should come to Stormont.

“Do we really want such sensitive powers to come to an Executive which can be held to ransom by Anderson’s party as and when Republicans see fit by way of the Republican veto?

“Remember too that once policing and justice are devolved they become subject to the Belfast Agreement’s North/South collaboration process. We had a telling reminder of just how much influence Unionists have on North/Southery at yesterday’s meeting of the NSMC. The meeting was attended by just two Unionists (Peter Robinson and Robin Newton) and six Nationalist Ministers from Northern Ireland. When one factors in the Irish Government Ministers Unionists were outnumbered 17 to 2.

“Devolving policing and justice will only lead to more Republican and Dublin interference in another area of governance. It is therefore something which should be steadfastly resisted by all right thinking Unionists”.