Ulster
steps out on the road to self-rule
From DAILY TELEGRAPH December 2nd, 1999
Executive in control from today
By Peter Foster in Belfast and George Jones
POLITICIANS in Northern Ireland will take their first tentative steps into
self-government this morning after the curtain finally came down on 25 years
of rule from Westminster. They will assume responsibility for the everyday
job of governing Ulster, making decisions on issues such as health, education
and housing.
Despite the difficulties caused by the refusal of Democratic Unionist Party
ministers to work with Sinn Fein and the issue of IRA decommissioning, which
threatens to derail the process, there was a prevailing mood of cautious
optimism that the new executive could succeed where the Sunningdale Agreement
failed in 1974.
Standing on the steps of Stormont, David Trimble, First Minister and leader
of the Ulster Unionist Party, said he believed that there was a general
will to overcome the political obstacles: "I have always said that this process is a darned sight more robust than people realise. Events of recent days, weeks and months have shown the rightness of that judgment."
"We have taken a significant step forward, spoiled slightly by the rather dubious position of the DUP ministers, but that wrinkle will iron itself out in time." Seamus Mallon, the Deputy First Minister, said he felt an
"awesome responsibility" as he prepared to take the reins of government:
"We are at the end of an era. I believe there is great satisfaction within the community at what has happened. That satisfaction is very solid."
At Westminster, party differences were put aside to express hopes that the
executive would succeed. At Prime Minister's Questions, Tony Blair announced
that the Queen had approved the Parliamentary Order devolving power from
Westminster to the new assembly and executive.
He said that, from midnight last night, the people of Northern Ireland would
have the first government directly accountable to them for 25 years. Paying
tribute to Mr Trimble and others in the province who moved the process forward,
he said: "There are going to be many difficulties along the way to achieving a lasting peace in Northern Ireland but I believe one huge, giant step forward has been taken."
William Hague, the Tory leader, concurred with the hopes expressed by Mr
Blair and congratulated all involved. The Commons and Lords approved the
order transferring powers to Stormont on Tuesday night. MPs backed it by
318 votes to 10, a Government majority 308, after Ian Paisley, leader of
the DUP, forced a division.
Mr Paisley insisted that no progress had been made on decommissioning. He
said his party would use its position in the assembly to fight reunification
of Ireland. The final, symbolic act in the devolution process will take
place in Dublin this morning when British and Irish ministers sign a declaration
in which the republic will give up its constitutional claim to the North.
In Belfast, the finishing touches to enable devolution were applied yesterday
with the inaugural meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council which
will establish cross-border links with the South. Mr Trimble and Mr Mallan
met two Irish counterparts to formally begin the process of establishing
co-operation on issues of mutual interest, such as waterways, fisheries,
trade and food safety.
The 12-seat executive will meet at Stormont this afternoon for the first
time to begin work on a programme of government for Northern Ireland. At
the same time, the IRA has agreed to appoint a representative to Gen John
de Chastelain's International Commission on Decommissioning and the general
will then prepare a report assessing the prospects for disarmament. |
