Policing and Justice Powers - devolution to Northern Ireland

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to The Northern Ireland Assembly, 9 March 2010 on Tue 9th Mar 2010

In the debate on the Executive Motion on the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers to Northern Ireland, David Ford said:

"As I rise to support the motion, I note the enormous wave of support that is either side of me.

"There is no doubt that the devolution of justice powers is the last challenge that we face as an Assembly. The issue brought down the institutions of this place in 1972, it was too difficult to deal with in 1998, and agreeing to it will be a sign that we can start to make progress at this stage. In fact, it will be the biggest change since 1998 in the devolution arrangements in any of the three devolved nations.

"Members need to listen to the community, particularly those who are involved in the justice system, about the importance of getting this devolution and to show that we can deliver in the Assembly for all our people.

"I start by thanking Jimmy Spratt for his report. I also thank the members of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee for their work. I fear that their detailed report will not get the attention that it probably deserves, given the way in which it has been introduced. Mr Spratt certainly made some interesting points, particularly when he talked about the role of the Attorney General and the functioning of the Public Prosecution Service, which will need to be addressed in coming weeks.

"I believe that we need the devolution of justice powers for three key reasons. First, it is part of cementing the peace process. I speak as an MLA for South Antrim, a year after the shootings at Massereene Barracks when two soldiers were murdered and a couple of months after the car bomb that so seriously injured Peadar Heffron. If we need any examples in this society of the necessity of getting the devolution of justice powers under way, we have only to look at what those who oppose it seek to do.

"Secondly, if we get devolution of justice powers, it will demonstrate that this institution and these institutions as a whole are capable of taking responsibility for difficult decisions. It will also demonstrate that the sort of ya-boo politics that we have seen so much of over the past three years are at an end.

"Thirdly, there is clearly a need to have joined-up government and to have the institutions function together correctly. This morning, I sponsored an event in the Long Gallery for the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers. I made the point that an interplay exists between the criminal justice system and people who have mental health and personality disorder issues. Those issues are simply not dealt with unless Ministers who sit together round the same Executive Table address them. I note that my professional colleague across the way is at least nodding his head in agreement.

The devolution of Policing and Justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly will help ensure community policing on the ground.

"I have no doubt that there exists in this community confidence in the devolution of justice powers. The overwhelming results of opinion polls and the kind of conversations that we all have show that although there may not be a demand for the devolution of justice powers as such, there is an absolute demand that these institutions take responsibility for the issues that are in the remit of the future Department of Justice. That is the case even if the questions that are asked in the polls are somewhat loaded. That absolute demand is why we need the devolution of justice powers. We need those powers to be devolved not because people necessarily want institutional change but because there is a vital necessity to see practical change and to see devolution delivering in all the areas that it can, including justice.

"I listened with modest interest to Mr Kennedy's rant. I noticed that he managed to spend most of his time giving general abuse. He was then followed by Ms Ritchie, who managed to heap an equivalent amount of abuse on people.

[Interruption.]

"That is OK, however, because I can deal with it. However, whenever we are discussing an issue that is as serious as this, the fact that the two parties on either side of me degenerate into personal abuse and do not consider the issues seriously shows that some people have to grow up even if others have started to move forward. Those who did not engage at Hillsborough when they were given the opportunity and those who did not engage before that when we invited them to engage on policies are the people who fail to recognise that, on the issue of a shared future, for example, we never expected to see a policy paper. However, we asked for and we got progress and engagement from the First Minister and deputy First Minister. That never happened when the Ulster Unionists and SDLP were in charge. That is a measure of movement forward that shows some degree of happening.

"When we get to the sort of remarks that we heard this morning from the Ulster Unionist Minister about what would happen if the Army had to be brought in -"

Mr Speaker: "I ask the Member to bring his remarks to a close."

David Ford: "The UUP is now showing that everyone else is out of step except it and Jim Allister. The Alliance Party supports the motion."