THE Northern Ireland Assembly's decision to agree to devolved policing and justice powers will build on the gains of the peace process, the British and Irish governments said last night.
Police chief Matt Baggott also welcomed yesterday's vote on the transfer of the powers from Westminster, which was secured despite Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) opposition.
The move underpins the Hillsborough Agreement brokered between the Democrati
c Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein to stabilise their power-sharing government.
The Assembly decision followed an acrimonious debate in which the UUP resisted pressure to support the move.
A Department of Justice for Northern Ireland will now be formed by 12 April, after powers are devolved
Out of the 105 votes cast, a total of 88 were in support of the move – only the UUP voted against.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Ireland's Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, said: "This is a significant step forward for the people of Northern Ireland, with overwhelming support from all sections of the community.
"It sends a clear message of confidence in the future, and commitment to build on the gains of the peace process that have been achieved over the last 12 years.
"We congratulate all who contributed to this important decision. We look forward to the completion of the devolution of policing and justice powers on 12 April. For its part, the British government will now introduce the necessary transfer orders in Westminster to facilitate this timetable."
The Hillsborough Castle deal, signed after nearly two weeks of talks at the County Down venue last month, promised delivery of the republican demand for the devolution of policing and justice powers, plus the unionist call for the creation of new systems to oversee Orange Order parades.
The agreement was aimed at providing greater stability to the power-sharing administration, avoiding a threatened collapse after a lengthy political stand-off on the devolution issue.
The UUP was accused of electioneering over the deal in a bid to put unionist rivals the DUP under pressure, although it strenuously denied the allegation.
During the debate, the DUP leader and Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson attacked the UUP. "I believe it is time for us all to move forward. There must be no going back to the bad old days of the past," he said. "Throughout history there are times of challenge and defining moments. This is such a time. This is such a moment." He added: "Leadership is not about what's easiest, or what best suits our party interests, it is about doing what is right for our people."
The UUP claimed the ministerial executive must sort out other outstanding matters – such as the long-standing row over post-primary school transfer arrangements – before it can take on law and order functions.
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said: "As a democratic political party pledged to making power-sharing work in an inclusive manner for all the people of Northern Ireland, we exercise our rights, refusing to bow to the blackmail and bullying to which we have been subjected in recent weeks."
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness questioned the UUP stance. "I have to say that these are the most dysfunctional political positions I have ever come across," he said.
In recent days the UUP came under international pressure to back the deal, with Conservative leader David Cameron confirming he was asked to intervene by former US president George W Bush. Mr Cameron is in a pact with the UUP. But he said: "The one thing we cannot do is force people to vote a particular way."
VICTIM'S WRITA LEADING victims campaigner attempted to serve a High Court writ on Martin McGuinness for his alleged part in IRA violence during a break from the justice debate at Stormont yesterday.
Willie Frazer, who lost five relatives at the hands of republican paramilitaries during the Troubles, confronted the Sinn Fein deputy first minister with the legal papers accusing him of membership of the IRA army council that ordered the murder of his father.
But Mr McGuinness, a self-confessed member of the IRA during the conflict, refused to accept the document, prompting Mr Frazer to throw it at him. Sinn Fein later denied that a writ had been officially served.
The campaigner, who fronts the group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives, is trying to take a civil case against Mr McGuinness in Belfast High Court.
