Devolved parliament in Northern Ireland adopts power transfer

London - The devolved parliament of Northern Ireland Tuesday voted to adopt legislation allowing the transfer of crucial police and judicial powers to the province from London, despite opposition from one of the smaller Protestant parties in the assembly. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), led by veteran Northern Ireland politician Reg Empey, said it could not support the move, which will lead to the creation of a Department of Justice for Northern Ireland after the powers are devolved on April 12.

In London, Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed the vote as the "final end of the decades of strife" in Northern Ireland where democracy and tolerance would now prevail.

"Progress finally replaced the politics of division in Northern Ireland," said Brown.

After an acrimonious debate, Northern Ireland's First Minister, Peter Robinson, said: "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."

"Throughout history there are times of challenge and defining moments. This is such a time. This is such a moment," said Robinson, who is also the leader of the biggest Protestant Party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

The rebellion by the smaller UUP prompted an intervention over the weekend by Hillary Rodham Clinton, the US Secretary of State, who urged Empey and all other major party leaders to adopt the deal, hammered out after marathon negotiations last month.

Former US President George W Bush also intervened, asking British Conservative leader David Cameron to urge the UUP to pass the deal. The opposition Conservatives in London are in an electoral alliance with the UUP.

But in the end, despite the UUP voting against, the legislation was passed by a comfortable majority. Out of the 105 votes cast, a total of 88 were in support of the transfer of powers.

The move is seen as the final step in the implementation of the 1998 Northern Ireland Peace Agreement.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/313256,devolved-parliament-in-northern-ireland-adopts-power-transfer.html.