The Five Demands

Gerry Adams ha affermato, in giornata, che il dialogo tra le forze politiche sulla devolution è in una fase delicata.

Questa, unica, lapidaria, dichiarazione di Adams  riassume la posizione cauta dello Sinn Fèin dopo le minacciose esternazioni di McGuinness alla fine del mese scorso.
L’empasse di Robinson sembra aver fatto bene ai colloqui tra lo Sinn Fein e il DUP in tema di trasferimento dei poteri di polizia e giustizia. Oggi, il Segretario di Stato, ha convocato al castello di Stormont per un summit i leaders di UUP, SDLP, PUP e dell’Alliance.
Proprio Sir Empey, segretario dell’UUP, ha definito l’incontro con Woodward “utile”, ma che prima di sostenere l’accordo, il suo partito deve conoscerne i particolari.
Il segretario di stato, inoltre, incontrerà in serata il ministro degli esteri irlandese Micheal Martin. Il primo ministro in pectore, Arlene Foster, ha trascorso l’intero giorno in ufficio dopo la designazione.
Si attendono dichiarazioni ufficiali dei partiti. Per adesso, si ha l’impressione che “qualcosa si stia muovendo” come riferisce l’uomo di punta della BBC Mark Devenport.
Il parlamentare del DUP Gregory Campbell aveva, però, esternato il suo disappunto al trasferimento dei poteri sulla giustizia: “Credo che la comunità non sia ancora pronta”  ed ancora ” Non importa quanti primi ministri vadano e vengano, il problema rimane”.

Policing talks ‘at serious stage’ (BBC News Northern Ireland)
Gerry Adams has said talks between Sinn Fein and the DUP over the devolution of policing and justice powers are at a “sensitive and serious stage”.
Mr Adams described the discussions as “hugely important” but would not comment on details.
The leaders of the UUP, SDLP, PUP and Alliance have been summoned to Stormont Castle by the Secretary of State.
BBC Political Editor Mark Devenport said the “mood music seemed to indicate there was something afoot”.
‘Under duress’
The UUP leader Sir Reg Empey described his discussion Secretary of State Shaun Woodward on Tuesday afternoon as “useful” but said his party would have to see the shape of a deal on policing and justice before committing to supporting it.
He added that he was very concerned that any agreement could appear that it has been negotiated by the DUP under duress.
Mr Woodward will hold talks with the Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin in Dublin on Tuesday evening.
The intensified talks are taking place as Arlene Foster spends her first day in office after taking over as acting first minister.
She is standing in for Peter Robinson, who has stood side for six weeks in order to clear his name over an allegation surrounding his wife Iris’ personal and financial conduct.
She obtained £50,000 from two developers to help her teenage lover begin a cafe business. She kept £5,000 of the money for herself.
When Mr Robinson found out about the payments, he did not tell the proper authorities, despite being obliged by the ministerial code to act in the public interest at all times.
Confidence
Sinn Fein and the DUP have been at loggerheads for months over transfer of justice and policing powers from London to Belfast.
Sinn Fein has warned that progress needs to be made quickly or the power-sharing government could collapse.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell said on Tuesday that the community still did not have enough confidence to devolve the powers to Stormont.
“We have to work until it is and when it is and we can verify that, we then proceed – but not until then,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter how many first ministers come and go, it doesn’t matter how many scandals there are or aren’t, that remains the issue.”
The British and Irish governments see the transfer of policing and justice as the last piece of the devolution jigsaw.