Breakthrough Achieved in N. Ireland Negotiations

A deal brokered between the U.K. and Ireland became a crucial step forward in the history of Northern Ireland.
Breakthrough Achieved in N. Ireland Negotiations
AGREEMENT PUBLISHED: Northern Ireland's First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson (C) speaks beside Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (R) during a press conference after a deal was announced concerning Northern Ireland's power-sharing government at Hillsborough Castle on Feb. 5 in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Irish and British prime ministers published an agreement Friday that should guarantee the continuation of Northern Ireland�s power-sharing government. (Cathal McNaughton/WPA/Getty Images)
2/7/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/IRELANDC.jpg" alt="AGREEMENT PUBLISHED: Northern Ireland's First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson (C) speaks beside Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (R) during a press conference after a deal was announced concerning Northern Ireland's power-sharing government at Hillsborough Castle on Feb. 5 in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Irish and British prime ministers published an agreement Friday that should guarantee the continuation of Northern Ireland�s power-sharing government.  (Cathal McNaughton/WPA/Getty Images)" title="AGREEMENT PUBLISHED: Northern Ireland's First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson (C) speaks beside Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (R) during a press conference after a deal was announced concerning Northern Ireland's power-sharing government at Hillsborough Castle on Feb. 5 in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Irish and British prime ministers published an agreement Friday that should guarantee the continuation of Northern Ireland�s power-sharing government.  (Cathal McNaughton/WPA/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1823328"/></a>
AGREEMENT PUBLISHED: Northern Ireland's First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson (C) speaks beside Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (R) during a press conference after a deal was announced concerning Northern Ireland's power-sharing government at Hillsborough Castle on Feb. 5 in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Irish and British prime ministers published an agreement Friday that should guarantee the continuation of Northern Ireland�s power-sharing government.  (Cathal McNaughton/WPA/Getty Images)
A deal brokered between the governments the U.K. and Ireland became a crucial step forward in the history of Northern Ireland on Friday.

What has been the longest set of negotiations in the 20-year peace process has confirmed that the Northern Ireland government will take on policing and justice powers from the British government on April 12.

“Today is a good day for the people of Northern Ireland and for the people of these islands,” said a joint statement issued by the British and Irish governments.

Brian Cowen, the Republic of Ireland Taoiseach (prime minister), and Gordon Brown, the U.K. prime minister, announced the agreement at Hillsborough Castle in County Down in Northern Ireland.

After almost two weeks of continuous talks between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin, consensus has been reached with respect to parades, policing, and justice, thus averting a collapse in the Northern government. The unionists (mostly Protestants) in Northern Ireland favor continued political union with Great Britain, while Sinn Féin (mostly Catholics) supports a united Ireland.

A working members group will be set up immediately. Its task is to deal with the issues surrounding Orange Order parades. It is hoped that both sides of the communities in areas where the parades—which tend to heighten any Catholic-Protestant discord present—are organized will be able to come to agreements that take their specific circumstances into account. The time frame for this group to conclude its work is three weeks.

After this period, the Northern Executive will transfer responsibilities for parade legislation from Westminster (London) and a new bill based on the group’s proposals will be put before the Northern government. The new framework is expected to come into operation by the end of 2010; until then the current Parades Commission will continue to manage this area.

In an effort to finetune the current power-sharing process, an executive working group will be co-chaired by Ulster Unionist leader and Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey and Social Democratic Labor Party (SDLP) Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie.

Another executive working group will be organized to look at unresolved issues such as the restructuring of the education system.

The first minister and deputy first minister will conduct an exercise to address matters that are still outstanding from the 2006 St. Andrews agreement. These include such matters as the protection of the rights of Irish-language speakers.

The joint statement from the British and Irish governments expressed relief at the outcome of the current talks.

“The successful outcome of these negotiations is the result of the political parties in Northern Ireland demonstrating leadership, mutual respect, and political will to act in the interests of the whole community.

“The two governments fully support and stand over this agreement. We are committed to working, as appropriate, to ensure its faithful implementation.”