Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.
Ivor Callely
Question:
159
Mr. Callely
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the consideration, if any, given to the Patten report on policing; the time schedule, if any, for the implementation of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8608/00]
The Good Friday Agreement provided the context and the opportunity "for a new beginning to policing in Northern Ireland with a police service capable of attracting and sustaining support from the community as a whole".
Under the terms of the Agreement, an independent Commission on Policing was established, with Chris Patten as chairman. Its remit was to bring forward "proposals for future policing structures and arrangements, including means of encouraging widespread community support for those arrangements".
The Patten report, published in September 1999, comprehensively addressed the full range of important and sensitive issues related to policing. The Government, on publication of the report, said that the early and effective implementation of its recommendations would form an essential aspect of the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as a whole.
The British Government's position on the implementation of the Patten report was set out on 19 January 2000, in a statement to the House of Commons by the Secretary of State. The Government welcomed the British Government's decision to accept the great majority of the proposals and looked forward to seeing "a detailed implementation plan and the early publication of the necessary legislation following on from today's statement".
The British Government is currently preparing a new Bill on policing in Northern Ireland, as well as preparing specific implementation plans. It is expected that both will be published shortly. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in his statement to the Commons on 19 January of this year, indicated that the new title of the service would come into force in the autumn of next year with the arrival of the first new recruits entering through the new independent recruitment mechanism.
The Patten report considered that "a mechanism is needed to oversee the changes required of all those involved in the development of the new policing arrangements, and to assure the community that all aspects of our report are being implemented and being seen to be implemented". It recommended that an oversight commissioner be appointed to fulfil this role. The Government considers that the speedy appointment of an oversight commissioner is key to the effective implementation of the report and has engaged in detailed discussions with the British authorities on the issue.
