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Post by Frenchie on Nov 29, 2009 12:07:20 GMT 1
A date for the transfer of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland must be set before Christmas, Martin McGuinness has said.
The Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister was speaking after meeting the Republic of Ireland's leader, Brian Cowen.
The DUP and Sinn Fein have been arguing for months over the issue, often referred to as the "last piece of the devolution jig-saw".
PM Gordon Brown is to discuss the issue with Taoiseach Cowen on Monday.
"What is required is a date to be agreed prior to Christmas for the transfer to take place and to take effect early in the New Year," Mr McGuinness said.
He said that "ongoing attacks" by First Minister Peter Robinson on the decision-making processes were of concern.
"I see these attacks as a very clear example of the failure on the part of the DUP to embrace the equality, partnership and power-sharing arrangements which lie at the heart of these agreements ," he said.
Mr Robinson has said that he wants community designation replaced by a 65% weighted majority system to "ensure widespread support" but which would stop any single party having "a veto on progress".
"It would encourage co-operation and compromise and end the potential of blackmail by stalemate," he told a DUP meeting in Foyle last week.
The DUP leader has said policing devolution will only take place when there is sufficient community confidence.
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