DUP says no to NI power transfer

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson has said there can be no transfer of policing and justice powers to the Northern Assembly while the IRA Army Council continues to exist.

He was responding to a call from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for Northern Ireland's politicians to move on the devolution of policing and justice powers.

In a statement, Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley also said he would not be proposing the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont because the necessary conditions do not exist.

Earlier Bertie Ahern and Gordon Brown said they believe the time is right for political parties in Northern Ireland to take the final steps towards complete devolution and normality.

At a meeting near Manchester this morning, Mr Ahern and Mr Brown also confirmed they intended to participate in the International Investment Conference in Belfast in May.

The meeting took place in an unusual setting, a conference room on the edge of Manchester airport.

Mr Ahern and Mr Brown reviewed progress in the Northern Ireland since the establishment of a power sharing administration last year.

They said in a statement afterwards they were convinced the time was right for the political parties to take the final steps towards full devolution and normality.

This is a reference to devolving the powers of justice and policing, over which Westminster still has control.

Northern Ireland's security minister Paul Goggins, who is a Manchester MP, also attended the meeting.

The time scale for this process is, however, still being debated by the parties.

Both leaders also confirmed they would be attending the International Investment Conference in Belfast in May.

They called the conference 'an opportunity for Northern Ireland to demonstrate to the world that the peace and stability it now enjoys is here to stay'.

Mr Ahern afterwards described his third bilateral meeting with Mr Brown as 'very positive'.

This afternoon, the two leaders attend the United and City derby match at Old Trafford.

A minute's silence was held before the game to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.