Murphy starts first day as NI Secretary of State

Northern Ireland's new Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, has met local political leaders on his first day of office.

Mr Murphy, who replaced Dr John Reid following a Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, spent time with both David Trimble and Mark Durkan before heading to Bangor where he met shoppers at Bloomfield Shopping Centre – his first official engagement of office.

Later in the day the former Welsh secretary also met with other political parties to discuss the ongoing crisis in the peace process.

His appointment has been welcomed by most of the key political players in the province but he faces a difficult task in trying to put the peace process back on track.

The consensus among observers is that Mr Murphy is a tactful, patient and skilled diplomat – qualities he will need in abundance as the post-suspension landscape contains many more pitfalls than he may have been used to in his last spell here in 1999.

However, speaking shortly after his appointment, Mr Murphy said the government's priority of implementing the Agreement would not alter following his appointment. He said: "It is very important that we secure the achievements of the Agreement for the long term.

"My job now is to listen to the people of Northern Ireland, their representatives, the Irish government and to everyone who has the realisation in their hearts that we do need to press ahead with those principles which underlie the agreement.

"I believe there is a lot of optimism among the people of Northern Ireland and that is the challenge of it. To see the that the Belfast Agreement is implemented."

Born in Monmouthshire in 1948, Mr Murphy was a lecturer in history and politics at Ebbw Vale College in Gwent before entering parliament.

As MP for Torfaen since 1987, he was Minister of State for Northern Ireland between 1997-1999. He moved to the position of Welsh Secretary until his appointment yesterday as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

(MB)