| Smiles all round after political
history is made
 By Trevor O'Sullivan
The new First and Deputy First Ministers of the Northern Ireland Assembly
shared a joke at Stormont last week.
The sight of Ian Paisley —the Democratic Unionist Party leader who spent
decades denouncing Republicans — and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness
joining together in political unity was a moment few thought they would ever
witness.
Those crowded into Stormont could barely believe what they were seeing — the
historic culmination of decades of bloodshed and a 14-year peace process.
The election of 81-year-old DUP chief Paisley as First Minister of a new
12-member administration heralded an astonishing new era for the North of
Ireland.
When being sworn into the devolution process on May 8, Paisley affirmed an
oath pledging to co-operate with Catholics and the government of the
neighbouring Republic of Ireland — moves which the evangelical firebrand had
long denounced as surrender.
Seconds later Sinn Féin deputy leader McGuinness accepted the No. 2 post of
Deputy First Minister.
McGuinness affirmed the same oath which required all ministers to support
the PSNI and British courts — a position that Sinn Féin had for decades
refused to accept.
And within a few more minutes all 12 powersharing positions were filled on
the basis of how many seats each party holds in the Northern Ireland
Assembly.
Paisley’s Democratic Unionists took five cabinet positions, Sinn Féin four,
while the moderate Protestants of the Ulster Unionists received two and the
Nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party just one.
The speedy and indeed trouble-free formation of the 12-member administration
heralds a new era for the North after a four-decade conflict that left 3,700
dead, tens of thousands maimed and two generations psychologically scarred.
But last week the North’s history was well and truly that — history. The
ceremony passed off smoothly with little to no dissent — and even some good
humour between all parties.
Powersharing heralded by politicans around the globe
PRAISE poured in from around the world last week for the new leaders of
the Stormont Assembly.
Northern Secretary of State Peter Hain said: “It’s going to stick, I
believe, because the DUP and Sinn Féin are the two most polarised forces in
Northern Ireland’s politics, they have done the deal and that’s why I
believe it’s here to stay for good.”
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said: “This is another significant landmark
in the process of transforming life on this island. I genuinely believe that
we are all shaping a real process of national reconciliation and building a
new relationship between the people on this island and between Ireland and
Britain.”
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said: “The mission of the UUP in the months and
years ahead is to demonstrate that Unionism and politics in general is not
about a sectarian power-grab.”
Tony Blair paid tribute to the work for peace carried out by John Major,
John Hume, Gerry Adams, Peter Hain, Dermot Ahern and those who had
previously held the office of Taoiseach.
The Prime Minister also praised the North’s politicians who made the events
of May 8, 2007 possible.
He said he had lost count of the number of times Mr Paisley assured him he
would share power if the terms he believed would endure were put in place.
Ireland’s Belfast-born President Mary McAleese — who was on a visit to Newry
in Co. Down — said the ministers in the new powersharing executive carried
the hopes of the North and South.
She said: “It is truly an extraordinary day in the history of Northern
Ireland, the island of Ireland and indeed relations between Ireland and
Britain. For our part in the South we stand ready — as the Taoiseach has
made clear — to work with you in a new partnership that will bring tangible
benefits to all the people of this island.”
US Senator and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said the day marked the
realisation of peace and progress.
She said: “I am very proud of the role that my husband and I were able to
play in helping to bring about peace in Northern Ireland. The commitment of
everyone involved, their constructive negotiations, their sacrifice, their
faith, led us to this day of a new government and great hope. We know that
many people have suffered great losses... but these events remind the world
that yes, peace is possible. I praise everyone involved, especially Prime
Minister Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.”
Former British Prime Minister Sir John Major said: “The sight of people that
were once totally antagonistic to one another sitting down to plan the
future of Northern Ireland is very attractive. I always believed that it was
possible but that it would be difficult and that it would take a long time.
All of those things turned out to be right.”
The ministers of the new powersharing Assembly
The line-up for the North of Ireland’s powersharing executive and their
positions:
Ian Paisley (DUP) First Minister
Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin) Deputy First Minister
Peter Robinson (DUP) Finance and personnel
Nigel Dodds (DUP) Enterprise, trade and investment
Arlene Foster (DUP) Environment
Edwin Poots (DUP) Culture, arts and leisure
Catriona Ruane (Sinn Féin) Education
Conor Murphy (Sinn Féin) Regional development
Michelle Gildernew (Sinn Féin) Agriculture
Michael McGimpsey (UUP) Health and social services
Sir Reg Empey (UUP) Employment and learning
Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) Social development
Ian Paisley Jr (DUP) Junior minister in the office of First Minister
Gerry Kelly (Sinn Féin) Junior minister in the office of Deputy First
Minister
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