Alliance Leader welcomes Sinn Féin move but more work is required

12.00.00pm GMT Mon 29th Jan 2007

Alliance Leader David Ford has called on the DUP and Sinn Féin to do what is required to ensure devolution can return to Northern Ireland on 26 March. He said that both the DUP and Sinn Féin remain conditional in their attitudes to progress.

David Ford said: "Yesterday's decision by Sinn Féin's Ard Fheis marks a real opportunity for progress in Northern Ireland.

"This long overdue change in Sinn Féin policy is another significant forward step on the road to devolution. What we really need is stable and genuine power-sharing and more is required from both the DUP and Sinn Féin to secure this. It is time they both ended their conditions and got on with the job.

"The DUP must pledge to share power with Sinn Féin and they must start talking to Sinn Féin representatives face to face.

"Sinn Féin must now demonstrate their support for policing by working on the ground with police to help them combat crime. This entails Sinn Féin representatives encouraging people to contact police if they have information on incidents, as well as joining the policing structures."