Republican News · Thursday 7 August 2003

Extend the passport scheme

Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff is gaining a reputation in Omagh as something of a diplomat. Those familiar with his brand of straight talking may find this hard to believe but the title is less for his tactful style than for his work on behalf of the Passport Office in Dublin.

McElduff wrote to the Passport Office some two months ago requesting 500 passport application forms and he has had to reorder more already.

Under a current pilot scheme, only some post offices in the North - in Belfast, Derry, Enniskillen and Newry - are able to process Irish passport applications.

McElduff, citing the tremendous demand he has encountered, has called on Brian Cowen to see that the scheme is extended throughout the Six Counties.

The pilot scheme has seen the demand for access to passport facilities acknowledged, however belatedly, and now McElduff's initiative has proved the demand is there throughout the North.

Looks like it's not only the Tyrone footballers who are on a winner.

Criminal justice

Criminal Justice was one of the key areas raised by Sinn Féin in the negotiations with the British and Irish governments leading up to the publication of the Joint Declaration.

The party argued that the new Act and accompanying Implementation Plan would not achieve the changes necessary in the criminal justice system.

The British government agreed to produce a new Implementation Plan and new legislation that would place a greater emphasis on All-Ireland cooperation, human rights, on achieving representativeness and on accountability.

These developments were hard won. But there still needs to be movement, particularly on the transfer of powers to a local Assembly, if we are to achieve a criminal justice system that is fair, representative, accountable and commands the confidence of the entire community.

Sinn Féin met with with the Justice Oversight Commissioner, Lord Clyde, on Monday to ensure that the required changes are put in place and that there is a clear timetable for implementing the new Criminal Justice Plan. The party will also continue to push for the further moves that are required.

Republicans will monitor implementation to ensure that there is progress on the Judicial Appointments Commission and the mechanisms that ensure its representativeness; action to address the issue of judicial representativeness; the duty on the DPP to refer all cases of PSNI misconduct to the Police Ombudsman; and the duty of all criminal justice agencies to have due regard of international and human rights standards.