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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Historic return for NI Assembly | Historic return for NI Assembly |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland has a new power-sharing government in an historic day at Stormont. | Northern Ireland has a new power-sharing government in an historic day at Stormont. |
| DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness took office as first and deputy first ministers as five years of direct rule ended. | DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness took office as first and deputy first ministers as five years of direct rule ended. |
| Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern witnessed the creation of the new executive. | Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern witnessed the creation of the new executive. |
| Mr Blair said that the day's events offered the chance for Northern Ireland to "escape the heavy chains of history" and "make history anew". | Mr Blair said that the day's events offered the chance for Northern Ireland to "escape the heavy chains of history" and "make history anew". |
| In October 2002, allegations of intelligence gathering within Stormont led to the suspension of power-sharing institutions. A subsequent court case collapsed. | In October 2002, allegations of intelligence gathering within Stormont led to the suspension of power-sharing institutions. A subsequent court case collapsed. |
| "Look back and we see centuries pock-marked by conflict, hardship, even hatred, among the people of these islands," the prime minister said. | "Look back and we see centuries pock-marked by conflict, hardship, even hatred, among the people of these islands," the prime minister said. |
| NI's road to peace Devolution reaction Send us your comments | NI's road to peace Devolution reaction Send us your comments |
| Irish Premier Bertie Ahern thanked all the politicians who have been involved in the peace process, but reserved special praise for Mr Blair. | Irish Premier Bertie Ahern thanked all the politicians who have been involved in the peace process, but reserved special praise for Mr Blair. |
| Mr Paisley said: "Today we are starting upon the road which I believe will take us to lasting peace in our province." | Mr Paisley said: "Today we are starting upon the road which I believe will take us to lasting peace in our province." |
| He added: "I welcome the pledge we have all taken to that effect today... that is the rock foundation upon which we must build." | He added: "I welcome the pledge we have all taken to that effect today... that is the rock foundation upon which we must build." |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he wished Ian Paisley all the best as they began "the greatest, yet most exciting, challenge of our lives". | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said he wished Ian Paisley all the best as they began "the greatest, yet most exciting, challenge of our lives". |
| "We must overcome the difficulties which we face in order to achieve our goals and seize the opportunities that now exist," he said. | "We must overcome the difficulties which we face in order to achieve our goals and seize the opportunities that now exist," he said. |
| Mr McGuinness said he was confident he and the DUP leader could work together. | Mr McGuinness said he was confident he and the DUP leader could work together. |
| Both Mr McGuinness and Mr Paisley paid tribute to DUP assembly member George Dawson, who died on Monday evening. | Both Mr McGuinness and Mr Paisley paid tribute to DUP assembly member George Dawson, who died on Monday evening. |
| Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said he was delighted that the people of Northern Ireland now had a government of their own. | Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said he was delighted that the people of Northern Ireland now had a government of their own. |
| SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "What today shows is that when finally you have a government setting a deadline and setting terms and keeping to them, you can get somewhere." | SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "What today shows is that when finally you have a government setting a deadline and setting terms and keeping to them, you can get somewhere." |
| William Hay was appointed as the new speaker, replacing the outgoing Eileen Bell. | William Hay was appointed as the new speaker, replacing the outgoing Eileen Bell. |
| In nominating the DUP assembly member, Mr Paisley said the speaker in the next assembly would be from the nationalist community. | In nominating the DUP assembly member, Mr Paisley said the speaker in the next assembly would be from the nationalist community. |
| Protesters tried to block the PM's motorcade | Protesters tried to block the PM's motorcade |
| Demonstrators protesting against the war in Iraq were forcibly removed by police after they attempted to block the arrival of Mr Blair's motorcade. | Demonstrators protesting against the war in Iraq were forcibly removed by police after they attempted to block the arrival of Mr Blair's motorcade. |
| The protesters, who had been standing in front of Parliament Buildings, ran down the hill to the Carson Statue and lay down on the road. | The protesters, who had been standing in front of Parliament Buildings, ran down the hill to the Carson Statue and lay down on the road. |
| Ministers from the four main parties took the pledge of office, which includes support for the police. | Ministers from the four main parties took the pledge of office, which includes support for the police. |
| The return of devolved government follows an historic meeting in March between Mr Paisley and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, where they agreed to share power. | The return of devolved government follows an historic meeting in March between Mr Paisley and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, where they agreed to share power. |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said he was confident the parties would make a go of it. | Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said he was confident the parties would make a go of it. |
| VIP guests at Stormont included US Senator Ted Kennedy, the DUP leader's wife Baroness Paisley and Peggy McGuinness, the deputy first minister's mother. | VIP guests at Stormont included US Senator Ted Kennedy, the DUP leader's wife Baroness Paisley and Peggy McGuinness, the deputy first minister's mother. |
| Also attending was Jeanette Ervine, the widow of Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine, who died in January. | |
| The first meeting of the new power-sharing executive is scheduled for later this week. | The first meeting of the new power-sharing executive is scheduled for later this week. |