The Presbyterian Church has issued a call to the Northern Ireland Executive to meet "without delay", and on the Westminster Government to "share the costs relating to the years of conflict".
In a wide ranging report and resolutions agreed by the Church's General Board, meeting in Belfast today, Thursday 16 October, Presbyterians expressed their "belief that the difficulties in devolving justice and policing powers should not delay the meeting of the Executive and therefore calls on it to meet as a sign of willingness for good governance for the people of Northern Ireland."
The Board also expressed that it is " deeply concerned that the present impasse in the Executive is rapidly leading to a general lack of confidence in the political process."
A report presented to the General Board by Presbyterian Church and Society Convener Dr Lesley Carroll said that "We understand that for Nationalists and Republicans the devolution of these powers is of the utmost importance as the final proof of acceptance into shared government."
"However we believe that the Unionist parties need to be clear as to what the difficulties in agreeing the devolution of these powers actually are and it is our view that the main concerns are about the budget for policing in the future and how that will be impacted by the cost of dealing with the past.
"While there may remain those who simply do not want to share powers with Nationalists and Republicans this is not, we believe, the main difficulty in reaching agreement.
"In the light of both the unknown costs and the predicted costs of dealing with the past, everything should be done to minimise the legacy costs and that Westminister should not expect to devolve all financial responsibility to the Stormont Assembly."
While commending political representatives for the progress made Dr Carroll's report described the present impasse as a "matter of grave concern" that is a "hindrance to matters affecting everyday life being addressed" and resulting in a "disenchanted population and a government not making the best use of its devolved powers."
"Caution needs to be exercised in order that what has been achieved is not wasted and that as devolution can happen incrementally, what is agreed for devolution should be devolved without delay."
The report and resolutions agreed by the General Board, whose 200 members are representative of Presbyterians throughout Ireland, and which meets to conduct the affairs of the Church between its annual General Assembly follow below.
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The devolution of criminal justice and policing is a matter of concern for the committee. The seeming lack of political will amongst our leadership to work effectively together in continuing to build a shared and better future has caused a lack of confidence across society. While we commend our political representatives for the progress that has been made, at the same time we believe that caution needs to be exercised in order that what has been achieved is not wasted.
The failure of the Executive to meet is not only symbolic of difficulty, it is also a hindrance to matters affecting everyday life being addressed. This is seen in the lack of legislation passed by the Assembly. The result is a disenchanted population and a government not making best use of its devolved powers.
The impasse on criminal justice and policing is, therefore, a matter of grave concern. It is the view of the Committee that the devolution of policing powers will be a positive sign of a maturing society. We understand that for Nationalists and Republicans the devolution of these powers is of the utmost importance as the final proof of acceptance into shared government.
We believe that the Unionist parties need to be clear as to what the difficulties in agreeing the devolution of these powers actually are. It is our view that the main concerns are about the budget for policing in the future and how that will be impacted by the cost of dealing with the past. While there may remain those who simply do not want to share powers with Nationalists and Republicans this is not, we believe, the main difficulty in reaching agreement.
The committee therefore believes that, in light of both the unknown costs the predicted costs of dealing with the past everything should be done to minimize legacy costs and that Westminster should not expect to devolve all financial responsibility to the Stormont Assembly. Responsibility for overcoming the divisions of the past will be undermined if financial costs are not shared by Westminster and the freedom of Northern Ireland's leadership to accept responsibility for itself will be unhelpfully constrained.
We also believe that, as devolution can happen incrementally, what is agreed for devolution should be devolved without delay.
We are concerned that claims of commitment to partnership government, specifically by Republicans, are undermined by an evident lack of understanding of those with whom they are claiming partnership. There is no commitment to sharing without the commitment to understanding the political realities of those one 'the other side' and each must take the concerns of the other seriously.
We strongly believe that differences among the parties in the realm of criminal justice and policing should not be allowed to interfere with the meeting of the Executive and governance in other areas. We therefore call upon the Executive to meet without delay as evidence of their commitment to good governance.
The ongoing work of rebuilding Northern Irish society is impressive in its scope, as evidence by the number of consultations that have taken place or that are in progress. Yet we are a society, at one and the same time moving forward and caught in the past. As a church we draw on our beliefs and practices to inform us in our present social and political context.
We look to
We hold out the hope of the God who is always doing a new thing and we endeavour to stay alert to what God is doing anew in Church and in Society.
Resolutions
The General Board understands that for the Nationalist and Republican community the devolution of justice and policing powers is a matter of urgency and that for political Unionism community the delay is, among other things, about the costs of devolving powers. We therefore believe: a. that Westminster should share the costs relating to the years of the conflict and b. that what is agreed should be devolved without delay
The General Board believes that the difficulties in devolving justice and policing powers should not delay the meeting of the Executive and therefore calls upon the Executive to meet as a sign of willingness for good governance for the people of Northern Ireland.
The General Board is deeply concerned that the present impasse in the Executive is rapidly leading to a general lack of confidence in the political process.
ends
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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