Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

A move by Sinn Féin would remove last obstacle to Power Sharing - Öpik

23 January, 2007

Responding to recent developments regarding the potential involvement of Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland policing Lembit Öpik MP, shadow secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said "we recognise that policing is traditionally a difficult issue for Sinn Fein. However, I would encourage Sinn Fein members to take the step of signing up to policing structures in Northern Ireland. The Police Service has undergone a number of reforms in the last few years and many of these are intended to address the specific concerns of the republican movement in regard to how the police service is run. It is now the most accountable force in the United Kingdom.

"It's also clear that, by declaring their support for policing, Sinn Fein would leave the DUP with no reasonable option but to commit to sharing power in Northern Ireland. This means a restart to devolution. That's the best thing for Northern Ireland - local decisions taken by local politicians who are accountable to the people of Northern Ireland. There are ineffective systems in place in Westminster for dealing with Northern Ireland legislation which we have been trying to change, but that is no substitute for a working Assembly.

"As others have said, for democracy to work in Northern Ireland, it needs the full participation of all sides. Support for policing is essential to this. If Sinn Fein take the step of signing up to policing, I feel that the DUP will have no excuse for refusing to sign up for power sharing."