Wednesday 28 March 2007

More on that historic deal ...

Emergency legislation allowing Northern Ireland's historic power-sharing deal to go ahead has been rushed through Parliament with all-party backing.

NI Secretary Peter Hain hailed the "triumph of peace over conflict" as the deadline for devolution was effectively extended by six weeks.

It follows Monday's ground-breaking deal between the DUP and Sinn Fein to share power in a new Assembly on 8 May.

The NI St Andrews Agreement Act 2007 cleared all its stages without a vote.

It has received Royal Assent.
BBC News:

The DUP MEP Jim Allister has resigned from the party in protest over its decision to enter power-sharing with Sinn Fein.
He said he was leaving the party with immense sadness but that he felt Sinn Fein was "not fit for government".

It comes after a ground-breaking meeting between Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams at Stormont when they agreed to share power on 8 May.

Mr Allister said he would not be giving up his seat as an MEP.

Mr Allister, who previously left the party after a disagreement in the 1980s, was opposed to the DUP executive resolution committing to power-sharing.
BBC News: