Transfer of policing and justice

Tuesday 09 March 10

By Maria – Member of the Belfast WIMPS crew

The transfer of Justice Powers to Northern Ireland is a highly interesting and debated issue amongst our Wimps members and the wider community. The issue is also attracting interest from politicians across the water as American Vice President Hilary Clinton and EX US President George Bush attempt to persuade each party to accept the transfer of policing and justice by phone conversations to our local politicians (and not so local if we include David Cameron). Even President Obama has hailed the deal ‘important’. 

It is clear that the DUP and Sinn Fein have enough votes to ensure the bill will be passed under their own personal agreement. However this introduces the question of will the Justice Deal reflect what the majority of constituents in Northern Ireland want. This is due to the smaller parties not having a say on the deal. It is important to remember Northern Ireland is supposed to have a coalition Government. However this does not seem to be the case.

Although the UUP have said it will vote ‘no’ in the deal and the SDLP are outraged that David Ford is tipped to be the next Justice Minister due to the D’Hondt system meaning their own party should hold the position, their opposition to the deal will not stop the transfer of powers from Westminster to Stormont.

Although more than 70% of people in Northern Ireland believe decisions made on policing should be taken by local ministers, the terms under which the deal is made is clearly a more worrying prospect for the smaller parties in the Assembly who are clearly being ignored and even told to “sort themselves out” as Martin Mc Guinness has said about the UUP.

It is clear that Tuesday’s decision will be of great importance however, what will be of more importance to the constituents is when will all the arguing be over?

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