ASSEMBLY MAPS WAY TO STABILITY
Assembly maps way to stability
By IAN GRAHAM and RUTH O'REILLY
THE new Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday got down to the business of mapping out the future government of the North.
First Minister David Trimble spoke of "a pluralist parliament for a pluralist people", in which unionists and nationalists worked together for the common good.
But he also issued a warning, clearly aimed at Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party, that the ruling executive could not countenance "rogue ministers".
And he spoke out against the prospect of Sinn Fein taking ministerial seats unless the IRA's armoury is destroyed.
Opening the debate on how the new structures would be set up, Mr Trimble said the 108 members of the new parliament had "an historic an honourable opportunity to govern with honour and create a Northern Ireland at peace with itself."
Mr Trimble outlined the difficulties of meeting the deadlines set out in the agreement.
But he added: "We are in the fortunate position of struggling with democratic constitutional arrangements rather than struggling with the politics of the latest atrocity.
"I want a pluralist parliament for a pluralist people in a Northern Ireland in which all of us, unionist and nationalist, work together for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland."
BRIDGE TO DEMOCRACY
In a reference to Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams' declaration that violence "must be over, done with, a thing of the past", Mr Trimble said he had welcomed the moves made by some crossing the bridge from terror to democracy. "We should all be here relying only on our votes and not on weapons. I hope we will see those previously engaged in violence now embrace peace with a new vigour."
At a news conference later, Mr Trimble also spoke out against the anti-agreement DUP and Mr Paisley's intention to take ministerial positions but not to sit on the executive with Sinn Fein. "I don't want to have rogue ministers who ignore the common programme," he said.
His deputy Seamus Mallon echoed his sentiments, attacking the idea of ministers sitting in the "ivory tower of their departments outside the central collective".
But Mr Paisley claimed the First and Deputy First Ministers were split over the way ahead for the assembly and he challenged Mr Trimble's Ulster Unionists to make their position clear.
He also challenged them to say which assembly members would sit on the North-South ministerial council.
Mr Adams said unionists and republicans had inflicted "great hurt" on each other but added: "I think it is very important that we see today as a chance and a possibility : to make a new history." He also wanted to be "friends" with Mr Paisley and warned against the assembly being turned into a "shouting shop".
A debate on the Omagh massacre was adjourned until this morning.
It was also disclosed that Denis Watson and Boyd Douglas, two anti-agreement assembly members who resigned from the Ulster Unionist Party last week were forming a new party.
By IAN GRAHAM and RUTH O'REILLY
THE new Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday got down to the business of mapping out the future government of the North.
First Minister David Trimble spoke of "a pluralist parliament for a pluralist people", in which unionists and nationalists worked together for the common good.
But he also issued a warning, clearly aimed at Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party, that the ruling executive could not countenance "rogue ministers".
And he spoke out against the prospect of Sinn Fein taking ministerial seats unless the IRA's armoury is destroyed.
Opening the debate on how the new structures would be set up, Mr Trimble said the 108 members of the new parliament had "an historic an honourable opportunity to govern with honour and create a Northern Ireland at peace with itself."
Mr Trimble outlined the difficulties of meeting the deadlines set out in the agreement.
But he added: "We are in the fortunate position of struggling with democratic constitutional arrangements rather than struggling with the politics of the latest atrocity.
"I want a pluralist parliament for a pluralist people in a Northern Ireland in which all of us, unionist and nationalist, work together for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland."
BRIDGE TO DEMOCRACY
In a reference to Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams' declaration that violence "must be over, done with, a thing of the past", Mr Trimble said he had welcomed the moves made by some crossing the bridge from terror to democracy. "We should all be here relying only on our votes and not on weapons. I hope we will see those previously engaged in violence now embrace peace with a new vigour."
At a news conference later, Mr Trimble also spoke out against the anti-agreement DUP and Mr Paisley's intention to take ministerial positions but not to sit on the executive with Sinn Fein. "I don't want to have rogue ministers who ignore the common programme," he said.
His deputy Seamus Mallon echoed his sentiments, attacking the idea of ministers sitting in the "ivory tower of their departments outside the central collective".
But Mr Paisley claimed the First and Deputy First Ministers were split over the way ahead for the assembly and he challenged Mr Trimble's Ulster Unionists to make their position clear.
He also challenged them to say which assembly members would sit on the North-South ministerial council.
Mr Adams said unionists and republicans had inflicted "great hurt" on each other but added: "I think it is very important that we see today as a chance and a possibility : to make a new history." He also wanted to be "friends" with Mr Paisley and warned against the assembly being turned into a "shouting shop".
A debate on the Omagh massacre was adjourned until this morning.
It was also disclosed that Denis Watson and Boyd Douglas, two anti-agreement assembly members who resigned from the Ulster Unionist Party last week were forming a new party.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/154
Published Date: 15-Sep-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.