In his New Year message, Mr Woodward said the government stood ready to devolve the remaining powers in May.

He said that it was for the parties to decide when the time is right, but the government will be ready to make the transfer of powers next May "as envisaged in the St Andrews Agreement".

He said completing devolution would send a message to the world the politicians in Northern Ireland "have truly broken away from the past and are intent on building a new and better future".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7164400.stm

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Does anyone invisage unionists handing republicans proper policing powers and what will this mean in the future?

The words poachers turned gamekeepers spring to mind!

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The time will never be right for the DUP and if the government can just push ahead like this then why didn't they do this with the Irish language act which is also "envisaged in the St Andrews Agreement"

Would make for interesting times though - there are still plenty of contentious areas that still need further exploration - batten down the hatches boys - it is going to be a bumpy ride

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Seems a little too soon for me..

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I recall at the time of the devolution of powers from Britain to the six counties it being mentioned that justice ought to be held, on a rotational basis by OUP/SDLP perhaps six/eight monthly terms, perhaps having a junior ministry.
I would think the Alliance would also make a pitch, though they are a unionist party so this would not sit easily with many nationalists (well me)
There will need to be an analysis of all parties contribution on all justice matters as there will not only be a ministry but also a committee, committee chair, vice chair etc.
Junkhead, I do not believe it is too soon, for many who work in the justice environment it is a little overdue, being able to hold these agencies to account (other than police) is to be welcomed and might allow some insight into army/prison service/loyalist collusion and army murders.
I think many voluntary bodies would welcome this move and allow them to represent their interests more effectivly within indigeneous government.

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Paisley Jr. has said.

"There are things that could be done at leadership level on all those practical issues, whether it's the Quinn murder, the McCartney murder, the issues to do with Orange halls, all of those matters, and more," he said.
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Do the DUP recognise any crime whatsoever that cant be blamed on republicans, and why dont they speak out against the armed loyalists?
Ever?
Theres more to policing than their little republican vs unionist games.

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The DUP wants to see the devolution of policing and justice, the party's junior minister Ian Paisley Junior has said.
He added, however, this would only happen when there was "sufficient confidence".

Speaking on BBC NI's Inside Politics, Mr Paisley said there was more that the Sinn Fein leadership could do to build that confidence.

If that happened, he said, he would not be "reluctant to give leadership".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7172564.stm

Who would get the Ministry if it happened? Would they just continue the D'Hondt process and give it to SDLP or would they start again and give it to the DUP?

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Why don't the british devolve themselves, their soldiers, their clipped syllables and fradulent legalism back to their own country where they belong? All else is extremism masquerading as compromise.

I have heard them speak out about loyalists in a general "crime is wrong" kind of way, but the fact is that a lot of their voters support said loyalists (or at the very least, their ideology), no matter how tacitly. They seem to be walking a very fine line.

Leadership from Ian Jr?!? Lord help us all!