Speculation about Department Changes to make way for Dept of Policing & Justice is premature and unwise says Kennedy
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Member of the Executive Review Committee, Danny Kennedy, today said premature speculation about the demise of departments to make way for a Department of Policing and Justice was “unwise, unhelpful and unsettling to officials employed in the departments”.
Mr Kennedy also stated that it remained the UUP’s view that devolving Policing and Justice Powers by next May was premature and the public was not ready for such a move.
In a statement Mr Kennedy said,
“The Committee met yesterday and will be looking at making room for an eventual department of policing and justice. The UUP remains to be convinced that devolving policing and justice should happen by May 2008. We feel it is very premature and public confidence is not high enough to permit such a move.
Any move carries with it an adjustment to the current departments. The Committee will no doubt be looking at a number of significant options, some of these include DCAL and the DOE which is finding much of its remit being devolved to local councils. Both of these departments also have relatively small budgets when compared to other departments. The Committee might also consider the amalgamation of the DFP into OFMDFM. All of these options, and indeed others, will be considered in due course.
Nothing has been set in stone as yet. There is by no means any fait accompli. This is why speculation from unnamed sources surrounding departments is unwise, unhelpful and unsettling to officials within those departments.”