This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6634373.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Historic return for NI Assembly | Historic return for NI Assembly |
| (20 minutes 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 have taken their pledges of office as devolution returns to Northern Ireland. | DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness have taken their pledges of office as devolution returns to Northern Ireland. |
| Five years of direct rule by London appointed ministers officially ended at midnight. | Five years of direct rule by London appointed ministers officially ended at midnight. |
| British and Irish Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern travelled to Stormont to witness the ceremony. | British and Irish Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern travelled to Stormont to witness the ceremony. |
| 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. |
| Quick guide: Conflict in NI class="" href="/1/hi/northern_ireland/6634251.stm">Devolution reaction | |
| Mr Paisley said Northern Ireland was now "on the road to prosperity". | Mr Paisley said Northern Ireland was now "on the road to prosperity". |
| "I believe we're starting on a road which will bring us back to peace and to prosperity," he said. | "I believe we're starting on a road which will bring us back to peace and to prosperity," 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. |
| "We've already taken joint decisions, but that was in the context of not having power," he said. | "We've already taken joint decisions, but that was in the context of not having power," he said. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern are witnessing the ceremony | Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern are witnessing the ceremony |
| 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. |
| 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 are taking the pledge of office, which includes support for the police. | Ministers from the four main parties are taking the pledge of office, which includes support for the police. |
| The return of devolved government follows an historic meeting in March between DUP leader Ian 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 DUP leader Ian 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. |
| Protesters tried to block the PM's motorcade | Protesters tried to block the PM's motorcade |
| VIP guests at Stormont include US Senator Ted Kennedy, the DUP leader's wife Baroness Paisley and Peggy McGuinness, the deputy first minister's mother. | VIP guests at Stormont include US Senator Ted Kennedy, the DUP leader's wife Baroness Paisley and Peggy McGuinness, the deputy first minister's mother. |
| Also attending is Jeanette Ervine, the widow of Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine who died in January. | Also attending is 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. |