The Day Doctor No Decided He Could Say ‘Yes’

By Deric Henderson; Dan McGinn

The Rev Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams struck the peace deal of a lifetime yesterday in an extraordinary act of reconciliation which cleared the way for a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

The leaders of unionism and republicanism sat down together at a specially arranged diamond shaped table in a dining room at Parliament Buildings in Belfast and pulled off a political triumph which stunned London, Dublin and Washington.

Even though restoration of the Stormont Assembly was delayed for another six weeks, the two men agreed a deal which will have both sides in face-to-face talks starting immediately in advance of Mr Paisley ( nicknamed Dr No for his decades of shouted intransigence ( being declared First Minister on May 8.

Martin McGuinness, the IRA street fighter from Londonderry and still loathed by some of the Democratic Unionist leader’s closest associates, will be sworn in as Deputy First Minister.

Not since the signing of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement has there been a development on this scale. Arguably what happened at Stormont yesterday was even greater because of its potential to deliver a lasting settlement which could finally end stop-start government.

The two men met just after 11am in the impressive members’ dining room as part of a brilliantly choreographed sequence in which nothing was left to chance.

The tables were arranged in such a way that the two would be sitting side by side within touching distance in a symbolic gesture which would resonate to all corners of the community.

First in was Mr Paisley and 10 colleagues who marched from their third floor offices. Sinn Fein followed after Mr Adams briefed his team in a ground floor front office.

The sense of occasion ( and history ( was not lost on anybody present either.

One member of the Sinn Fein delegation who was never far from Mr Adams over the last 20 years said: “You really had to pinch yourself.

“The word historic is often overused, but I don’t think anyone who saw the imagery today would have missed the significance of it all. At times you had to concentrate really hard to what was being said. It was powerful.”

There were no handshakes. Yet the atmosphere was relaxed and the two leaders spoke passionately about their hopes for a future free of violence and division in which they all could share, and a new administration addressing huge social and economic challenges.

Mr Paisley, 80, said: “I want to make it clear that I am committed to delivering for not only those who voted for the DUP, but for all the people of Northern Ireland. We must not allow our justified loathing of the horrors and tragedies of the past to become a barrier to creating a better and more stable future for our children. In looking to that future, we must never forget those who have suffered during the dark period from which we are, please God, now emerging.”

Mr Adams, a former prisoner in the republican H-Blocks at the Maze and now MP for west Belfast said the meeting marked the beginning of a new era of politics in Ireland.

He said: “Sinn Fein is about building a new relationship between orange and green and all the other colours where every citizen can share and have equality of ownership of a peaceful, prosperous and just future.

” There are still many challenges, many difficulties to be faced, but let us be clear ( the basis of the agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP follows Ian Paisley’s unequivocal and welcome commitment to support and participate fully in the political institutions on May 8.”

The deal was warmley welcomed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and US President George Bush.

Mr Blair said it was as if all the efforts to deliver lasting peace and stable government over the past 10 years had been a preparation for yesterday’s groundbreaking deal.

(c) 2007 The Journal – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.