Ceremony marks devolution in NI

Local politicians have joined together today to mark the start of a new era of power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness were sworn in respectively as First Minister and Deputy First Minister at the ceremony in Stormont which was witnessed by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Veteran US Senator Edward Kennedy was also in attendence to head a distinguished guest list as devolution returns for the first time in almost five years.

Mr Paisley said he hoped the new Assembly would reach its full potential, and he believed the province was “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.

“And I would challenge the people of Northern Ireland to rise to the challenge and be determined that, come what may, we’ll make this a country where all men and women will be equal under the law – and equally subject to the law."

The first meeting of the power-sharing executive is scheduled to take place later this week.

Mr McGuinness said he was confident that he and DUP leader could work together and wished Mr Paisley all the best as they began "the greatest, yet most exciting, challenge of our lives".

"We must overcome the difficulties which we face in order to achieve our goals and seize the opportunities that now exist," he said.

In October 2002, allegations of intelligence gathering within Stormont led to the suspension of power-sharing institutions.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said: “It’s going to stick, I believe, because the DUP and Sinn Fein – Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness on the one hand, Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson on the other – these are the two most polarised forces in Northern Ireland’s politics, they have done the deal,” he said.

DUP’s William Hay has been nominated as the new speaker.

Proceedings were also be suspended for 30 minutes as assembly members mourned the death of DUP MLA George Dawson who died on Monday evening. Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness both paid tribute to Mr Dawson.

(JM/SP)