UK OKs NIreland power-share

30 Nov -0001, 12:00 am   -   Source: AFP
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Democratic Unionists leader, Ian Paisley (left) and the leader of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams. (AAP)

Democratic Unionists leader, Ian Paisley (left) and the leader of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams. (AAP)

The British government has officially paved the way for an historic power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, ahead of an inauguration ceremony in Belfast.

The British government has officially paved the way for an historic power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, ahead of an inauguration ceremony in Belfast.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has signed an order enabling the 108-seat Northern Ireland Assembly to meet to appoint a new multi-party government of Protestant unionists and Catholic nationalists.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern will attend the inauguration ceremony after brokering a deal in March to revive power-sharing following a four-year suspension.

London and Dublin hope the autonomous administration will bring permanent peace and stability to Northern Ireland, a British-ruled province where more than 3,000 people have been killed in sectarian violence since the late 1960s.

With both sides committed to a democratic peaceful process, the unionists want to retain union with Britain, while Sinn Fein wants union with the Republic of Ireland to the south.

The violence largely ended after the 1998 Good Friday peace deal, but efforts for a permanent settlement stalled when power-sharing was suspended in October 2002 over charges that the nationalists were spying.

Paisley to be first minister

In an event unthinkable a few years ago, Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionists (DUP), is to become the province's first minister, while Martin McGuinness, a former member of the militant group IRA and part of the opposing Catholic Sinn Fein party, will be his deputy.

Mr McGuinness insisted that the coalition of the DUP and Sinn Fein would succeed, saying that governing with the DUP would show that self-rule was a better alternative to being controlled by London.

The assembly was also due to nominate 10 ministers to head government departments and two junior ministers.

The ministers will be drawn from the DUP, Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionists and the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

An assembly speaker and three deputy speakers will also be elected.

Tuesday's ceremony will also allow Mr Blair to resign on a high note as Britain's prime minister and leader of the Labour Party after 10 years in power.

Having pledged last September to step down within a year, he is now expected to announce his retirement plans later in the week.

Meanwhile Mr Ahern – who faces a tough May 24 general election – could also do with a dose of reflected glory.
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