GOVERNMENT AND REPUBLICANS WILL NOT REST ON THEIR OARS ON DEVOLUTION OF POLICING AND JUSTICE SAYS EMPEY
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey today responded to comments made by Nigel Dodds in the House of Commons last night in relation to the devolution of Policing and Justice powers where Mr Dodds said it was not on the agenda.
In a statement Sir Reg said,
“I disagree with Mr Dodds’ analysis that the devolution of Policing and Justice is not on the agenda. I recall that last year Mr Dodds said that he did not anticipate it in his political lifetime. Now with Sinn Fein comments and recent comments from people within his own party, it seems the only thing preventing the devolution of these powers is the standing down of the IRA army council.
I believe that a major push will take place this year but I also believe that the issue of the devolution of policing and justice should not be solely dependent on the standing down of the IRA army council. There are a whole range of other matters that are relevant, it is also naïve to suppose that the Government and Republicans will simply rest on their oars on this matter.
I warned yesterday that there could be a link between the devolution of policing and justice and some sort of amnesty or expunging of criminal records and a declaration on the status of the troubles.
Extreme vigilance will be required in the months ahead.”