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NORTHERN
IRELAND ASSEMBLY A page of history turned almost audibly
From IRISH TIMES July 2nd, 1998
Andy Pollak savours the atmosphere at the inaugural meeting of the Northern
Ireland Assembly, where the unionist leader was at his most statesmanlike
It opened like a rather ramshackle county council meeting. The room was
modern and characterless. The chairman was new at the job and made up for
his lack of expertise with the sonorous tone of his pronouncements. Standing
orders ranged from the chaotic to the non-existent.
There was no division bell, putting at risk the votes of some members idling
in the corridor and the canteen. But the extraordinary nature of this gathering
quickly became apparent. Even before the proceedings opened, there was the
sight of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness bearing down on the DUP front
bench to all the world intent on attempting the final impossible handshake
before veering away at the last moment towards the exit door. In the public
gallery Ian Paisley and Joe Cahill, chatting with their respective constituents,
sat a few short feet apart. Monica McWilliams of the Women's Coalition was
kissing all around her, loyalists and republicans alike. As Sinn Fein members
rose to speak, the sound of the cupla focal rang through the unfamiliar
atmosphere of Stormont's Castle Buildings. It was interrupted only by outbursts
of co-ordinated coughing and loud chatter from the DUP and United Kingdom
Unionist benches. The generosity of John Taylor's opening comments in proposing
Seamus Mallon for the Deputy First Minister post, calling him a "good friend who will work for the good of Northern Ireland" set the tone for the speech-making.
Gerry Adams said Sinn Féin would abstain on the vote for the First and Deputy
First Ministers to spare the Ulster Unionists the embarrassment of being
seen to be supported by the republican enemies of Ulster.
When the traditional spleen of Stormont parliaments erupted - and it did
not take long - it was exclusively an inter-unionist affair. Ian Paisley,
Robert McCartney, Peter Robinson and their followers had only one target,
David Trimble, and only one topic for debate: whether he was going to sit
down in government with Sinn Féin before the IRA decommissioned any weapons.
Speaker after speaker from the DUP and UKUP side of the house demanded that
the Ulster Unionist leader give an absolutely binding commitment that such
an appalling vista was not being contemplated. When he finally rose to respond,
Mr Trimble had his new SDLP deputy's declaration of support ringing in his
ears. Seamus Mallon pledged that any disagreements between the two men would
be dealt with "face to face", because the unionist leader's "back is sore enough at this time."
Mr Trimble was at his most statesmanlike. Of course, the commitment to peaceful
means must be demonstrated by every party joining the new government of
Northern Ireland. Of course, he would not sit in government with "unreconstructed terrorists". And of course some people, including some in the Assembly,
had done "terrible things" in the past. But he acknowledged that such people
could change: just because they had a past as unreconstructed terrorists
did not mean they could not have a future as totally reconstructed democrats.
The near-miracle of a page of history turning in Northern Ireland was almost
audible. |
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