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Agreement in Northern Ireland Averts Collapse of Power-Sharing Government Agreement in Northern Ireland Averts Collapse of Power-Sharing Government
(about 3 hours later)
DUBLIN — Rival parties in Northern Ireland reached an agreement on Tuesday over an austerity budget dispute with Britain and legacy issues from decades of Catholic-Protestant strife. The agreement averted a collapse of the power-sharing government established 16 years ago.DUBLIN — Rival parties in Northern Ireland reached an agreement on Tuesday over an austerity budget dispute with Britain and legacy issues from decades of Catholic-Protestant strife. The agreement averted a collapse of the power-sharing government established 16 years ago.
Leaders of the parties in the government said the deal, which had floundered through 11 weeks of talks, had been completed after an exhausting 30 hours of negotiations.Leaders of the parties in the government said the deal, which had floundered through 11 weeks of talks, had been completed after an exhausting 30 hours of negotiations.
It was helped by British financial concessions and a common desire to avoid dissolution of the power-sharing government created by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which halted Northern Ireland’s protracted, bloody conflict.It was helped by British financial concessions and a common desire to avoid dissolution of the power-sharing government created by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which halted Northern Ireland’s protracted, bloody conflict.
A failure would have made Britain solely responsible for running Northern Ireland, raising the risk of a throwback to the days of violent enmity between the predominantly Catholic nationalists, who want to merge with Ireland, and the mainly Protestant unionists, who want Northern Ireland to remain part of Britain. A failure would have made Britain solely responsible for running Northern Ireland, raising the risk of a throwback to the days of violent enmity between the predominantly Roman Catholic nationalists, who want to merge with Ireland, and the mainly Protestant unionists, who want Northern Ireland to remain part of Britain.
Speaking to reporters at Stormont, the seat of the power-sharing government outside Belfast, First Minister Peter Robinson of the majority Democratic Unionist Party described the agreement as “very significant.”Speaking to reporters at Stormont, the seat of the power-sharing government outside Belfast, First Minister Peter Robinson of the majority Democratic Unionist Party described the agreement as “very significant.”
Mr. Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein, the main nationalist party in Northern Ireland and a partner in the power-sharing government, said they would recommend acceptance of the deal. The three smaller parties in the government also said they would support it.Mr. Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein, the main nationalist party in Northern Ireland and a partner in the power-sharing government, said they would recommend acceptance of the deal. The three smaller parties in the government also said they would support it.
A package of loans and financial assistance worth about $3.2 billion offered by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain helped break the impasse.A package of loans and financial assistance worth about $3.2 billion offered by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain helped break the impasse.
The British aid will enable Northern Ireland to avert some of the steep welfare reductions imposed elsewhere in Britain. It could also pave the way for Northern Ireland to reduce its corporate tax rate, now 21 percent, to the same as Ireland’s, 12.5 percent. The British aid will enable Northern Ireland to avert some of the steep welfare reductions imposed elsewhere in Britain. It could also clear the way for Northern Ireland to reduce its corporate tax rate, now 21 percent, to the same as Ireland’s, 12.5 percent.
A more competitive tax rate could bolster Northern Ireland’s economy by encouraging businesses to establish themselves there. Northern Ireland has lagged economically and has been seen by some in Britain as a financial drain.A more competitive tax rate could bolster Northern Ireland’s economy by encouraging businesses to establish themselves there. Northern Ireland has lagged economically and has been seen by some in Britain as a financial drain.
Welcoming the agreement, Mr. Cameron said it would allow Northern Ireland to “genuinely begin to overcome the key outstanding issues which have been unresolved since the Belfast Agreement.” He was using an alternate name for the Good Friday accord.Welcoming the agreement, Mr. Cameron said it would allow Northern Ireland to “genuinely begin to overcome the key outstanding issues which have been unresolved since the Belfast Agreement.” He was using an alternate name for the Good Friday accord.
Charlie Flanagan, Ireland’s foreign minister, helped guide the negotiations along with the British emissary for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers. The agreement, he said, created a “framework for dealing with the corrosive legacy of the past.” In a statement, President Obama, who is on vacation in Hawaii, said, “I look forward to the final ratification of this agreement by all the relevant parties, and to the continued advancement of a peace process that is leading to a better future for the people of Northern Ireland.” 
The agreement includes the creation of an oral history archive and an investigative body to look into deaths during the Northern Ireland conflict.The agreement includes the creation of an oral history archive and an investigative body to look into deaths during the Northern Ireland conflict.