Joint Statement by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Taoiseach Brian Cowen
The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach met this evening to review developments in Northern Ireland. They fully recognised the achievements of the devolved institutions to date and reaffirmed that the template for further progress remains the full implementation of the commitments outlined in the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements.
In this regard, the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach stressed the importance of the early completion of the devolution of justice and policing powers, now that the enabling financial package was in place. They agreed that this was necessary both to consolidate the functioning of the devolved institutions and to complete the transformation of policing in Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister and Taoiseach congratulated the PSNI and the Garda Síochána on the ongoing high level of co-operation to meet the challenge of the destructive efforts of a tiny minority who are seeking, through violence, to destroy the political progress of recent years.
The Prime Minister and Taoiseach agreed to work closely together, and with the parties, in the next few weeks to overcome the remaining obstacles to finding an agreed basis on which the devolution of justice and policing powers can take place at an early date.
Ends