Brown unveils devolution budget for N.Ireland policing, justice

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has outlined his proposals for a funding for the devolution of policing and justice in Northern Ireland, the prime minister's office announced on Wednesday.

Brown said the proposals, contained in his letter to Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, were designed to make it possible to complete the final stage of devolution settlement in Northern Ireland.

The prime minister said he believed the outlined settlement was a "good settlement" which would "meet the needs of a devolved Justice Department."

"Together we have, I believe, achieved an outcome in which we each have confidence and which will ensure that when policing and justice powers are transferred, the Northern Ireland Justice Department will have a secure financial foundation which we all recognize is important in ensuring confidence in the policing and justice services across the community," he said.

Brown said that his discussions with Robinson and McGuinness had been "careful, detailed and considered."

"I believe that this is a very strong settlement which will ensure that all the people of Northern Ireland continue to have high quality policing and justice services," Brown said.

The financing of the deal on policing and justice powers has been a major sticking point in recent weeks, which strained the province's power-sharing administration.

The 1998 peace agreement ended long-term conflict which killed 3,600 people in Northern Ireland, but last week a series of attacks occurred in Belfast.

Source: Xinhua