Written Answers. - Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
103
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
his views on the progress being made with regard to the development of acceptable policing structures in Northern Ireland; if he has received a commitment from representatives of Sinn Féin that it will support the Northern Ireland policing service and participate in the Policing Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[9861/03]
Policing in Northern Ireland has changed more in the past 18 months than in the previous 80 years, with the implementation of the Patten reforms and the establishment of the policing board in November 2001. The performance of the board – and that of the Police Ombudsman, Chief Constable Orde, the Oversight Commissioner and the Inspector of Constabulary – has demonstrated that this dynamic of change is reaching all areas of policing and is continuing apace.
In addition, a number of significant changes are being made to the Police (NI) Act 2000 by the new Police Bill which will be enacted shortly. This Bill gives legislative effect to the commitments entered into by the British Government at Weston Park in July 2001. It brings key sections of the 2000 Act into line with Patten by enhancing the powers of the policing board and the Ombudsman, as well as emphasising the importance of the core principle of policing with the community. It will also provide for secondments between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI, and it will act as a catalyst in the civilianisation pro cess by making provision for giving police powers to police support staff. Along with these legislative changes, many significant changes are also being effected in police policies and practices.
Taken together, these progressive steps – coming on top of the institution of a new police service in November 2001, with a new name, new badge and new flag – represent a very positive development in the nature of policing in Northern Ireland.
The question of Sinn Féin support for these new arrangements, including any decision by that party to join the policing board, is theirs alone to take. At the recent Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, the leadership indicated there could be "a time when it would be appropriate for Sinn Féin to join the Policing Board, and participate fully in the policing arrangements". However, the party has yet to signal when this might happen.
The Government's position is clear: we want a police service representative of all sections of the community, supported by all sections of the community, and being held accountable by the chosen representatives of all sections of the community. People have to decide in their own democratic way how to address issues, but it is clear that the time has come when the new Police Service – and its officers now being recruited on an equal basis as Patten intended – are entitled to the support and co-operation of the entire community.
We look forward to seeing Sinn Féin taking their place on the policing board sooner rather than later. We believe that such a move will be facilitated by the continued implementation of the Patten reforms and through the delivery of all acts of completion necessary to bring about the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
