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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Deal could make history says Hain | Deal could make history says Hain |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The St Andrews Agreement may come to be seen as a pivotal moment in Irish history, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has told the Commons. | The St Andrews Agreement may come to be seen as a pivotal moment in Irish history, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has told the Commons. |
| Mr Hain said the NI parties face a choice between the St Andrews proposals and dissolution of the assembly. | |
| He said the plan opens the way to a new dawn for democracy in Northern Ireland. | He said the plan opens the way to a new dawn for democracy in Northern Ireland. |
| "A new democracy based for the very first time in NI's tangled history on the twin foundations of the rule of law and power sharing," Mr Hain said. | "A new democracy based for the very first time in NI's tangled history on the twin foundations of the rule of law and power sharing," Mr Hain said. |
| "These two foundations stand together or fall together: on the one hand, unequivocal support for the police and unequivocal support for the rule of law; on the other an absolute commitment by all the parties to share power in a restored Northern Ireland executive. | "These two foundations stand together or fall together: on the one hand, unequivocal support for the police and unequivocal support for the rule of law; on the other an absolute commitment by all the parties to share power in a restored Northern Ireland executive. |
| "Delivery on both these foundations was absent from the Good Friday Agreement; now it is in prospect." | "Delivery on both these foundations was absent from the Good Friday Agreement; now it is in prospect." |
| Mr Hain said all parties must fully endorse the PSNI, actively encourage everyone in the community to co-operate fully with the police and play a full role in all the policing and justice institutions, including the Policing Board. | Mr Hain said all parties must fully endorse the PSNI, actively encourage everyone in the community to co-operate fully with the police and play a full role in all the policing and justice institutions, including the Policing Board. |
| A new Programme for Government Committee will begin regular meetings at Stormont from Tuesday to agree priorities for the new Executive, he said. | A new Programme for Government Committee will begin regular meetings at Stormont from Tuesday to agree priorities for the new Executive, he said. |
| However, Mr Hain also warned that if "something unravelled" between now and 24 November the Northern Ireland Assembly would be dissolved and the governments would revert to "plan B". | |
| Promise | |
| DUP leader Ian Paisley said his party had been promised that one of the foundations for a future devolved government would be full support for the police. | |
| "We have the promise but we have not the delivery. I have made it clear before that if this is not delivered then we can not go forward," he said. | |
| SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the DUP has moved "to the threshold" of accepting inclusive power-sharing and Sinn Fein to the threshold of accepting policing. | |
| "Both parties, it seems, are at last honouring those key commitments of the Good Friday Agreement," Mr Durkan said. | |
| Conservative Northern Ireland spokesman David Lidington congratulated the government and the leaders of the Northern Ireland parties "on what is clearly a major step forward". | Conservative Northern Ireland spokesman David Lidington congratulated the government and the leaders of the Northern Ireland parties "on what is clearly a major step forward". |
| "But we are absolutely clear that for this to happen, then Sinn Fein must deliver on policing," he said. | "But we are absolutely clear that for this to happen, then Sinn Fein must deliver on policing," he said. |
| Meeting | Meeting |
| Earlier on Monday, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams met Prime Minister Tony Blair in London. | Earlier on Monday, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams met Prime Minister Tony Blair in London. |
| It is thought the discussions touched on the shape of the economic package to accompany last week's St Andrews Agreement. | It is thought the discussions touched on the shape of the economic package to accompany last week's St Andrews Agreement. |
| Sinn Fein and Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists have until 10 November to respond to the proposed deal. | Sinn Fein and Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists have until 10 November to respond to the proposed deal. |
| Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams met Tony Blair in London | Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams met Tony Blair in London |
| The roadmap to restore devolution to Northern Ireland was revealed with a deadline of 26 March 2007 for a new executive after talks in Scotland. | The roadmap to restore devolution to Northern Ireland was revealed with a deadline of 26 March 2007 for a new executive after talks in Scotland. |
| Republicans have called for a £1bn investment package to accompany a deal. | Republicans have called for a £1bn investment package to accompany a deal. |
| It is believed Treasury officials have already held discussions with their counterparts in the Irish Department of Finance about the package. | It is believed Treasury officials have already held discussions with their counterparts in the Irish Department of Finance about the package. |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October 2002 amid allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont. | The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October 2002 amid allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont. |
| The court case that followed collapsed and one of those charged, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent. | The court case that followed collapsed and one of those charged, Denis Donaldson, later admitted working as a British agent. |
| Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since. | Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and has been in place since. |