Policing and Justice about More than Money
21 October 2009
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:“With all the hype surrounding the unveiling of the financial offer to facilitate the devolution of policing and justice it is worth remembering that the devolution of these powers is about much more than money.
“As Republicans have repeatedly made clear, they see the ending of British control of policing and justice and the transfer of those powers into an executive where they hold sway as a key part of their strategy.
“Immediately after policing and justice is devolved it comes within the ambit of the Belfast Agreement’s north/south structures and the DUP/Sinn Fein deal to get the powers to Stormont only limps through to 2012 when again Republicans will have the opportunity to extract new concessions.
“Even under the current arrangements, all cross-cutting issues from a Justice Department must go before the dysfunctional Executive where Sinn Fein/IRA hold power of veto.
“In short, TUV opposes policing and justice being devolved to an Executive which includes those who continue to justify the murder of policemen and judges”.
