Hain says November deadline must be met

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain has today said that the British and Irish Governments are unlikely to make another attempt to restore devolved Government to Northern Ireland until at least 2009 if the November 24 deadline is not met.

In a speech to the British Irish Association conference in Oxford, Peter Hain challenged politicians to work together and seize the opportunity to transform Northern Ireland by November 24, or face being united in failure and witness the dissolution of the Assembly, the melting away of a political class and a generation of young people robbed of economic opportunities.

Peter Hain said: “November 24 is the defining moment for Northern Ireland. If power sharing is not restored this autumn there are very strong reasons for believing the two Governments are unlikely to be in a position to make another attempt to bring the parties together until after the next Irish and then British general elections.

“Northern Ireland will slip further behind in the global economic race and community relations will stagnate or deteriorate as each side blames the other for the lost opportunity. The dissolution of the Assembly would see a political class melt away in failure. Worse, another generation of young people would equate economic dynamism and opportunity with life outside Northern Ireland.”

The Secretary of State added that the November 24 deadline is not up for negotiation, and if the politicians miss the opportunity and fail to discharge their responsibilities, the world will move on without them.

He continued by saying that unionists had a valid, honourable and valued place in the United Kingdom.

He said: “Unionists have every right to be confident; in their culture, in their politics, in their politicians. Because the ballot box is the ultimate guarantor of security: in a power-sharing Government based on equality everyone is stronger by definition, because everyone is respected and given weight.

“The Union of 2006 is different from the Union of 1926 or of 1966. Being part of the Union now means being part of a forward looking, dynamic economy and a society that has long ceased to be monocultural. The Union itself is evolving – it is not fossilised – and Northern Ireland cannot proceed as if it was hermetically sealed from that development.

“And if unionists seize the initiative in November and form a locally accountable power sharing Executive within a fully functioning Assembly, the prize will be the opportunity to transform the economic and social prospects for the next generation. Progress in Northern Ireland built on equality and partnership will provide the deep and lasting security which both communities crave.”

Meanwhile, Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan has arrived in Belfast to meet with local politicians to discuss the devolution process.

Mr Morgan said: "It is a privilege to have the opportunity to talk to the Northern Ireland Assembly about our experiences of devolution in Wales, what has already been achieved since the Assembly's inception in 1999 and what we hope to achieve in the future."

He added: "Devolution has allowed Wales to respond to the challenges of the 21st century and take responsibility for its own affairs, its economy and public services.

Mr Morgan said he would tell MLAs on Monday that Welsh devolution "has been a success because it has increased self-confidence, developed greater trust and transparency and is leading to a greater willingness to shoulder responsibility".

Mr Morgan's visit follows an earlier trip to Stormont by Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell in May.

(EF)