New dawn for Northern Ireland

30 Nov -0001, 12:00 am   -   Source: AFP
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Northern Ireland's First Minister, Ulster Unionist Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister, Sinn Feinn's Martin McGuinness smile after being sworn in as ministers of the Northern Ireland Assembly (AAP)

Northern Ireland's First Minister, Ulster Unionist Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister, Sinn Feinn's Martin McGuinness smile after being sworn in as ministers of the Northern Ireland Assembly (AAP)

Northern Ireland has entered a new era as Protestant and Catholic arch-foes were sworn in to share power and restore self-rule in the long-troubled province.

Northern Ireland has entered a new era as Protestant and Catholic arch-foes were sworn in to share power and restore self-rule in the long-troubled province.

Protestant leader Ian Paisley, Northern Ireland's new First Minister, said there was a real chance for "lasting peace" as he took office with Catholic former terrorist Martin McGuinness as his deputy.

"Northern Ireland has come to a time of peace. A time when hate will no longer rule," said Paisley, the firebrand clergyman of the Democratic Unionists (DUP). "How good it will be to be part of a wonderful healing in this province."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who hopes the Northern Ireland deal will form a key part of his legacy as he prepares to stand down, said the "chains of history" were being cast off.

Hopes for peace

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.

Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), has for decades pressed for Northern Ireland to be re-united with the Irish Republic, while unionists insist the province remain a part of the United Kingdom.

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 of a republican spy ring.

Those efforts were revived by Mr Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern last November in the Scottish town of Saint Andrews, where a deal was brokered to restart power-sharing in March.

Under the power-sharing deal, the DUP will hold four ministries, Sinn Fein three, the Ulster Unionists (UUP -- moderate Protestant conservatives) two, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP -- Catholic, moderate) one.

Economic development is seen as crucial if self-rule is to succeed, and British Chancellor Gordon Brown -- likely to succeed Blair with in the next two months -- has vowed a package of 51 billion pounds (74.9 billion euros, 101.5 billion dollars) over the next 10 years.

Mr Ahern underlined the need for the power-sharing deal to work. "As we step from this place of history, we must be resolved that this should be the last generation on these islands to feel the anger and pain of old quarrels," he said.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Mr McGuinness -- a former IRA commander, was more cautious than some, while celebrating the power-sharing deal.

"We know this will not be easy and the road we have embarked upon will have many twists and turns," said Mr McGuinness, who did not shake hands -- in public at least -- with Mr Paisley.

The 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.

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