Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Well Sinn Fein have been demanding a timetable for devolving justice, and now they have one. Five weeks to be exact, ending on November 18th. Okay, it's a timetable for the Assembly Executive and Review Committee to discuss the matter, not for the actual appointment of a minister, but republicans might regard it as a start.

The timetable was adopted by the Committee by 4 votes to 3 at a hearing when a number of unionists were absent. Alec Maskey denies pulling a fast one on the unionists, but the DUP are feeling sore. One senior DUP source called it "child's play" and vowed to overturn the timetable at the next meeting. However some officials aren't so sure they can reverse the decision.

Separately the Committee agreed to give other parties' observer status. But they have not yet moved on a suggestion that Alliance should be co-opted as a full participant. The Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness wrote to the Committee arguing that the Stormont institutions are "in default" of the St Andrews' Agreement - a statement rejected by some Committee members.

The real decisions on devolving justice will be taken not on the Committee, but by those who UUP member Danny Kennedy described as the "big beasts" - the FM, DFM and party leaders. However the latest tussle between Alec Maskey, who wants the Committee to get a move on, and the unionists, who won't say how long their deliberations should take, is a reflection of the wider realities so far as those "big beasts" are concerned.

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