“we do see after four years the justice ministry being run under D`Hondt..”

Interesting report on the comments of Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd at the NI Executive sub-committee reviewing policing and justice – although I’d imagine he wished the circumstances of his contribution were different.. ANYhoo.. Apparently Sinn Féin favours a dual-ministry “acting jointly as the way forward in relation to the ministerial model.” But that, “However we do see after four years the justice ministry being run under D`Hondt like any of the other ministries.” The reasoning is that

“[Sinn Féin’s] primary concern has to be the safeguards built into the system to safeguard community confidence. The community is going to have to have confidence in the system and the system as it is run.”

However, public confidence is a key issue in the timing of the transfer of policing and justice powers, as the UUP’s Alan McFarland reportedly pointed out

“There is an argument which says if there is sufficient community confidence (for the devolution of policing and justice powers) then what is the problem with a minister run under D`Hondt?”

Indeed. Although, it’s also worth noting that the Lord Chief Justice prefers a different model..

Pete Baker