David Hanson, the security minister is saying that if CRJ is to receive government funding it must adhere to agreed guidelines:
Mr Hanson, the Criminal Justice Minister, says a decision on the four outstanding applications will be made in the spring. He told Mr Lidington that funding “would only be considered if and when guidelines have been agreed and fully implemented by the schemes”. Mr Hanson says the schemes would have an “unambiguous and appropriate relationship” with police.
Noel McCartney, a spokesman for Community Restorative Justice:
…said the group is considering the Government’s draft guidelines, which they would have to sign up to in order to receive the funding. “CRJ has stated publicly that even if the protocols were agreed today, because of the contentious issue of policing in republican and nationalist areas, CRJ would only work with police once the political parties and the Government resolve the policing issue. It’s not CRJ’s responsibility to resolve this issue nor can we resolve it. Funding applications should be allowed or disallowed on the basis of the application.”
He went on to say that CRJ schemes would carry on with or without government funding.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
