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David Cameron addresses NI Assembly Rise in NI's peace walls 'disappointing' says Cameron
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister David Cameron has addressed members of the Stormont Assembly. The increase in the number of peace walls being built in Northern Ireland is disappointing, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
Mr Cameron arrived for a one day visit to Northern Ireland on Thursday. He was met at Stormont Castle by the first and deputy first ministers. In his first address to the NI Assembly at Stomont he said the future lay in the politicians' hands.
"We can't have a future that's a shared future and not a shared-out future, where things are given out to either side of the sectarian divide," he said.
He added NI politics needed to move on to more 'bread and butter' issues.
"Politics needs to move beyond the constitutional issues to the issues of work, safe streets, a stable home life and family," he said.
"Politics is about public service on behalf of the whole community."
Mr Cameron is on a one-day visit to Northern Ireland. He was met at Stormont Castle by the first and deputy first ministers.
He is the second prime minister to deliver a speech to members in the debating chamber since the Good Friday Agreement was signed.He is the second prime minister to deliver a speech to members in the debating chamber since the Good Friday Agreement was signed.
Mr Cameron said he was keen to see NI continuing to move forward. 'Act of reconciliation'
Addressing the Assembly he also said the fact the speaker William Hay would, in the future, hand over to someone of a different tradition was "an example of cooperation between parties that will be widely welcomed" In his speech, he described the Queen's recent visit to Ireland as an "extraordinary huge act of reconciliation".
On the progress in Northern Ireland he said "None of this could have happened without the courage and conviction of people here from all parties" On the Saville Inquiry's findings on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972, he said he did not hesitate to apologise for "one of the sorriest episodes in our recent history".
"Our task is to move Northern Ireland even further forward" The Prime Minister said progress in NI would not have happened without the courage and conviction of people from all the political parties in the Assembly.
Mr Cameron also said the constitutional future of Northern Ireland did not rest with the British government. "Our task is to move Northern Ireland even further forward," he said.
"Whatever our preferences are, but it rest swith the people here," he said. Security, job opportunities and a shared future for the people of Northern Ireland were discussed at a meeting earlier on Thursday with the first and deputy first ministers.
At a press conference following his arrival on Thursday afternoon, Mr Cameron said he had enjoyed an "excellent discussion" with the first minister and deputy first minister.
He said topics discussed included security, job opportunities and a "shared future" for the people of Northern Ireland.
Mr Cameron also said it was important that the truth emerged from the Smithwick Tribunal which is examining allegations that Irish police, or a civilian working in the force, colluded with the IRA in the killing of RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan on 20 March 1989.
Mr Robinson welcomed Mr Cameron to Northern Ireland and confirmed security, the normalising of society in the region, the difficulties facing young people and job creation were among the issues discussed.
Mr McGuinness also welcomed the prime minister and thanked him for his "powerful statement" last year following the Saville Inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings in Londonderry of January 1972.
He said people could look forward with "great confidence", knowing the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland were "rock solid".