DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Arlene Foster has reiterated that the position of the Democratic Unionist Party remains entirely unchanged on the issue of the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. In comparing the DUP’s long-held positions on the matter with the present circumstances, Mrs. Foster demonstrated that the DUP had not moved its position one iota. Speaking today, launching the second leg of the DUP’s Rural Road-show at the Enniskillen Show, Mrs Foster said: “The Democratic Unionist Party position on the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly remains utterly unchanged despite some of the spinning going on by other parties. In 2006 at the Preparation for Government Committee, the position of the Democratic Unionist Party was that we wanted a single ministry. That remains our position and that is what has been agreed. Similarly, we stated that we wanted to see a single minister holding the Policing and Justice brief. That remains our position today and that is what has been agreed.
The central and crucial point in this debate is that the DUP will not agree to the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly until such times as there is sufficient community confidence to allow it to occur. The content of Sinn Fein understandings with the government reached at St. Andrews is something for Sinn Fein to deal with. It has nothing whatsoever to do with us and we are under no obligations on this issue.
Since 2006, the DUP outlined our view that this sensitive brief should be de-coupled from the D’Hondt process and that whoever is appointed must be capable of attracting cross-community support. That remains our position and what has been agreed effectively amounts to a DUP veto on whoever the Policing and Justice Minister will be. Just as we have used a veto in the past where necessary, we will do so again.”
Since 2006, the DUP outlined our view that this sensitive brief should be de-coupled from the D’Hondt process and that whoever is appointed must be capable of attracting cross-community support. That remains our position and what has been agreed effectively amounts to a DUP veto on whoever the Policing and Justice Minister will be. Just as we have used a veto in the past where necessary, we will do so again.”