Time to finish NI business, urges Hillary Clinton

[Peikko 1,575]

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday told the assembled politicians of Belfast, diplomatically but unmistakeably, that the time has come to complete the unfinished business of devolution.

In an address to the Northern Ireland Assembly she complimented local representatives on how far they had come. But in meetings with their leaders and in other public comments she specifically urged them to clinch the deal on transferring policing and security powers.

She held important meetings with First Minister Peter Robinson of the Democratic Unionists and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein.

She told the Assembly that it would make the decision on devolution, but pointedly added: "The step of devolution for policing and justice is an absolutely essential milestone."

The US, she said, would not "meddle" in the process. But one of the messages of her one-day visit was that policing was essential for increased stability, and that stability would make US investment and job creation more likely.

Her pressure, together with that emanating from both London and Dublin, is directly aimed at Mr Robinson and his party, whose misgivings have caused many months of delay in putting policing in place.

Not all in the DUP are keen on speedy movement, harbouring as they do many instinctive reservations about the Assembly and its system which locks them into government with Sinn Fein.

This was on view yesterday when, as the Assembly gave Mrs Clinton a standing ovation, two Democratic Unionist members, Gregory Campbell and the Rev William McCrea, headed for the doors of the chamber. The two are regarded as being among the hardline sceptics who are known as "the Twelve Apostles."

Sinn Fein member Daithi McKay called on the pair to apologise for "publicly snubbing the US Secretary of State."

Mr Campbell, a Westminster MP, denied he had staged a walkout, advancing the explanation that "we all have important business to do, particularly the economic regeneration of Northern Ireland."

The episode has tended to confirm the widespread suspicion that Mr Robinson's delaying tactics have not entirely been motivated by a desire to ensure that the arrival of policing powers will not bring with them additional costs of up to half a billion pounds.

Gordon Brown, who last week was involved in hours of financial negotiations with both Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness, yesterday sent them details of an offer dealing with the monetary aspects. The two leaders appear pleased with this.

In this instance Sinn Fein is - for once - on the side of the angels, in that republicans are at one with the various governments in wanting a quick end to the policing dispute. They are also fully in favour of maximum US involvement in the peace process.

Some Unionists by contrast have misgivings about what they would view as too much American intervention, harbouring lingering doubts that Washington might lean too much towards republican interests.

Mrs Clinton's pledge not to "meddle" may have been her attempt to allay such fears. As an old Northern Ireland hand - she first visited Belfast with her husband fourteen years ago - she would know well that such assurances may be necessary.

Mr Robinson reflected such concerns when he declared last week: "We are not going to be pushed or bullied or bribed."

Mrs Clinton told the Assembly: "The Obama administration and the United States is committed to helping you on your journey. But when it comes to the important issue of the devolution of policing and justice, that is a decision for this Assembly to take."

Mrs Clinton was accompanied on the trip by a number of American business figures and by the administration's economic envoy to Northern Ireland, Declan Kelly.

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[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Wow is the policing issue still going on?

[Peikko 1,575]

LOL. Read that wrong. Yeah, essentially there are still British forces stationed in NI although the levels must be quite low.

Edited October 12, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[The_Dude 1,142]

Depends. For one side the ultimate goal is re-integration with Ireland. For the other, remaining somehow aligned with the UK. Devolution is probably as good as it's going to get for now, but they don't really have that.

Well for many, NI is simply the northern 6 counties. The policing issue is going to loom large for a segment until it is purged. For the longest time, the police in NI were simply an extension of the UVA.

[Peikko 1,575]

NI is the Northern 6 Counties.

Robinson is DUP and the stalling is all coming from the Unionist side.

[The_Dude 1,142]

NI is the Northern 6 Counties.

Robinson is DUP and the stalling is all coming from the Unionist side.

Yes, it is the northern 6 counties of IRELAND.

[Peikko 1,575]

Are we beating a dead horse here?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Are we beating a dead horse here?

Indeed

Now just need Joe to show up to completely muck up this thread.

[aidan80 9]

Having been born and raised just a few miles on the northern side of the Irish border I have to say.. some days I'm still shocked at how far everything has come. Other days I'm annoyed that someone on one side or the other is stalling. Although I do try to keep in mind how difficult it is for both sides to hold their people together and push them towards the finish line. I try to put myself in the other sides shoes and think well if I was them how would I feel about this. People get scared, very scared of change they panic and like those two halfwits.. they run for "safety"of the exit and not the finish line. What those two did was wrong and disrespectful after everything the US has done to help the north. I think all in all the people in the north will hang on to what they've got and push onward and they will get it done in the end.

I think the british garrison in the north is now down to around an estimated 1,500 troops or there abouts from a high of around 30,000 - 35,000 during the conflict. That figure would exclude local people that join and serve in the TA or other british regiments in the north.

To me personally as republican and a nationalist the north is the 6 northeastern counties of Ireland and 6 of Ulsters 9 historical counties. No longer a contested area as the people of Ireland have finally had their say as to the status of the north.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Progress in NI is one of the few good things to have come out of the Blair years.

[aidan80 9]

Progress in NI is one of the few good things to have come out of the Blair years.

I agree, it was typical for us in the nationalist community in the north to be cautious or outright hostile to a british pm but Blair did change how we thought of the british. He couldn't have taken more of an opposite and more intelligent in my own opinion role to the north than compared to thatcher and her caveman approach. Inclusion instead of exclusion and criminalization won in the end! He thought out of the box, put aside a lot of things and talked to people he had a strong majority to make changes happen and he did make things happen. He was critical in breaking the deadlock the tory government before had failed to do for the best part of 25 years. To me at least they where just about keeping their head above water near the end of their term and needed the unionist votes in their parliament to stay afloat at times. It didn't do much for the policy of criminalization and containment they applied to the north. It was in my honest opinion a failed policy among many failed polices that if anything just threw fuel on the fire at times.

A lot has changed in a very short time in the grand scheme of things. At the end of all of this what has happened is unbelievable from what I've witnessed growing up. I'm sure older generations have seen even larger improvements on the ground.

[rebeccajo 14]

NI is the Northern 6 Counties.

Robinson is DUP and the stalling is all coming from the Unionist side.

Yes, it is the northern 6 counties of IRELAND.

I always find it somewhat fascinating when people who haven't lived in the shadow of tanks in the street, petrol bombs and snipers have a strong opinion about politics in the North.

[rebeccajo 14]

A lot has changed in a very short time in the grand scheme of things. At the end of all of this what has happened is unbelievable from what I've witnessed growing up. I'm sure older generations have seen even larger improvements on the ground.

Those who are older (like my husband) hold on to a tenuous hope all the while resigned that things are just a breath away from the bad times.

[The_Dude 1,142]

NI is the Northern 6 Counties.

Robinson is DUP and the stalling is all coming from the Unionist side.

Yes, it is the northern 6 counties of IRELAND.

I always find it somewhat fascinating when people who haven't lived in the shadow of tanks in the street, petrol bombs and snipers have a strong opinion about politics in the North.

I have lived there..... But thanks for your opinion.

[familyguy 2]

NI is the Northern 6 Counties.

Robinson is DUP and the stalling is all coming from the Unionist side.

Yes, it is the northern 6 counties of IRELAND.

I always find it somewhat fascinating when people who haven't lived in the shadow of tanks in the street, petrol bombs and snipers have a strong opinion about politics in the North.

Interesting, why would that fascinate you?

Are people who never lived in Iraq unable to form an educated and informed opinion on the Iraq war?

The troubles were very well covered for over 30 years and most people have a reasonable grasp of the situation.

Given the large Irish population in the US it is not surpising to me that many people here are better informed and more knowledgable than their counterparts in the UK.

I was born and raised in west Belfast and grew up during the height of the troubles until I was a teenager, so I tend to notice very quickly indeed when people do not have a grasp of the situation.

Edited October 12, 2009 by familyguy