Sinn Féin issues threat to NI government

Sinn Féin has warned it will collapse Northern Ireland's government if policing and justice powers are not devolved to Stormont.

Republicans are involved in talks with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on the issue but today said they will pull Sinn Féin ministers out of government if there is no movement.

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin told supporters at a republican commemoration in Co Cavan that his party's patience should not be tested.

'If we are forced to conclude that change will not be forthcoming from the Executive then we will have no option but to pull out our ministers and seek to put pressure where responsibility ultimately lies, which is on the British government in London,' he said.

The power-sharing government in Northern Ireland was established after the St Andrews talks which envisaged transfer of policing powers by May, but unionists ruled this out as being too early.

Sinn Fein first highlighted its growing frustration in June when it seemed poised to derail the election of DUP leader Peter Robinson as Northern Ireland First Minister when he took over from Ian Paisley.

After crisis talks involving Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Government, the DUP and Sinn Féin committed themselves to intensive negotiations.

'There is now widespread and growing concern among republicans at the failure to transfer policing and justice powers from London to Belfast in due time,' Mr O Caolain said.

'When Sinn Féin changed our policy on policing in the North, accepting that a new beginning was being made, it was with the prospect that policing and justice powers would be transferred by May of this year.'