A Question of Justice
I've just recorded this weekend's Inside Politics. The guest is Shaun Woodward, fielding questions about the turmoil within the DUP and whether it will have any impact on the timetable for devolving justice. The NIO has just published a poll it commissioned suggesting 60% of people support the devolution of justice and 62% think the May target date is either about right or not soon enough. The Secretary of State is obviously pleased with the results, especially as they appear to indicate a majority of DUP supporters in favour, but he still faces an uphill struggle to complete devolution.
At the end of next week Jeffrey Donaldson's Assembly and Executive Review Committee completes its report on the mechanics of devolving justice. The report is due to be published the following week, then debated in the Assembly in the second week in March. It's expected it might shed some light on the practicalities of which areas might be devolved, but it won't move things on so far as the date for transfer is concerned. Vincent Kearney will have more on the Politics Show on Sunday.
There is an expectation that the new DUP Junior Minister should be confirmed at the start of next week, and the latest indications appear to point more towards Jeffrey Donaldson than MLAs like Simon Hamilton or Peter Weir. I suppose what needs to be sorted out (and what might be clarified by this appointment) is what the job really is - a bag carrier to the First Minister or a future Justice Minister?
Inside Politics, as usual, is on BBC Radio Ulster tomorrow at a quarter to one.
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