DUP MLA Peter Weir has responded to a statement issued in the name of Jim Nicholson which attacked the DUP over the issue of devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
“Perhaps having spent so much time enjoying foreign jaunts around the globe, Mr. Nicholson is unfamiliar with the legal realities around the issue of devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. That is the only possible explanation for Mr. Nicholson’s recent ill-informed outburst on the subject.
The reality on this issue is far removed from the content of Jim Nicholson’s attack on fellow-Unionists. Thanks to the efforts of the DUP, devolution of these sensitive powers will only take place when we say so and not one minute beforehand. Thanks to the efforts of the DUP there will be no Sinn Fein policing and justice minister. Our record of delivery on this issue stands in sharp contrast to that of the Ulster Unionists.
Leading members of Mr. Nicholson’s own party said that a Sinn Fein minister for policing had to happen. Indeed during the period of the Transitional Assembly they called for the ministry to be included under the provisions of D’Hondt which would have gifted the ministry to a Sinn Fein member.
People well recall that the UUP had agreed to devolved these powers by the middle of 2005. They would have done so on Sinn Fein’s terms. They cannot attack others for improving massively on their discredited position and flawed position. How sad it is at a time when Unionists want to see an end to back-biting and negative politics, the UUP should have stepped into the gutter in this way. People will draw the obvious conclusion that they would rather attack fellow-Unionists than Republicans.”
