Privileged information
Most of the attention on today's public meeting of the Policing Board focussed on the questions directed by the new boys and girl from Sinn Fein to the Chief Constable. But I was struck by some comments from the Ulster Unionist Basil McCrea seeking a guarantee from Sir Hugh Orde that all members of the Board will get exactly the same information. This was obviously a reference to the fact that the DUP Policing Board member Jeffrey Donaldson has been made a privy counsellor. As such the DUP expects they will get privileged access to security information which they will then draw upon in deciding when the time is right to approve the transfer of policing and justice powers. Basil is worried that he will be kept in the dark.
Sir Hugh promised to update everyone on the Policing Board equally but ran for cover when he saw politics looming, arguing that the devolution of justice was a matter for the "big white house on the hill". Jeffrey Donaldson chimed in, reminding everyone that the main vehicle these days for discussing the devolution of justice is not the Policing Board but the Assembly and Executive Review Committee chaired by, guess who, the Lagan Valley MP.
This is due to report by the end of February on whether the assembly is likely to request the transfer of these sensitive powers in time for the target date of May 1st 2008. This date is close to Sinn Fein's heart, but earlier this week the DUP's Ian Paisley Junior appeared to blow this out of the water by ruling out the transfer of justice until the next Assembly. That means 2011. Asked why, he says because there won't be sufficient community confidence until then.
Ian Jr.'s comments appear to render Jeffrey's Committee report a bit academic. But then I'm not a Privy Counsellor and nor is Basil McCrea, so who are we to judge?
I'm 
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