Allister presses committee on McGuinness' judicial powers
22 September 2008
Traditional Unionist Jim Allister has written to the Clerk of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee pressing for assurances that the Committee will now address the removal of all powers relating to policing and the judiciary from OFMDFM. Though the Committee previously spent months looking at policing and justice issues, it never even discussed removing these powers from McGuinness' reach. Now, after months of concerted focus on the issue by TUV the DUP has declared OFMDFM must be stripped of these powers, something Jim Allister has welcomed.
Commenting the MEP said:
“As the law stands, when policing and justice is devolved not only will it become a North/South matter but Martin McGuinness will be given a key say in the appointment of Northern Ireland’s senior judiciary and in appointing members to the Policing Board. This is a matter which I have repeatedly highlighted and our recent publication on the subject gave the matter particular focus*. When this Committee last met, under Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP sleep-walked their way through, with no regard to this the most central issue on policing and justice. I'm glad in recent weeks we've woken them up and now they are promising action. Such action will require amendment in Parliament of the primary legislation passed in 2004. I look forward to delivery of that.
“In order to ensure the matter is central to the Committee's deliberations I have today written to the Clerk seeking an assurance that when it next meets, the committee will directly address the issue of how and when all powers pertaining to judicial and policing matters will be removed from OFMDFM.”
Click here to read TUV position paper on Policing and Justice.
