North’s leaders vow to build a strong future

THE North has turned its back on violence and its politicians must now build a stable and strong future, First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley said yesterday.

Speaking after his first North-South Ministerial Council meeting, the Democratic Unionist Party leader said people on both sides of the border never wanted to return to the days of conflict and tragedy.

Mr Paisley said: “I think we have turned the corner. It is up to us to see that now we build something that will be stable and strong. It is a tall order.”

Both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, hailed the meeting between ministers from Belfast and Dublin as productive and engaging.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern described the talks as being “as lively and all-embracing an engagement as I have ever been at”.

And in a telling moment on the ever-improving relationship between the leaders, Mr McGuinness heaped praise on Mr Paisley.

“I want to pay tribute to the leadership shown by the leader of the DUP, our First Minister Ian Paisley,” he said.

“I think he has made a very powerful contribution to bringing the position to where it is today.

“There is tremendous hope on this island. We want to end conflict on this island. I believe the First Minister and myself are part of an administration that is full of dedication and commitment to make this work.”

The Taoiseach added: “Remarkable progress has been made in the summer of 2007. It has been a tremendous honour to work with the First Minister and the Deputy Minister.”

As a sign of his commitment, he said he had brought 11 ministers with him to the meeting.

The meeting heard news of a £400 million (€594m) Irish Government-funded roads programme which will provide dual carriageways within the North.

They will serve both the north-west and the eastern seaboard corridor from Belfast to the ferry port of Larne and the Northern Ireland Executive confirmed its acceptance, in principle, to take on the two projects.

Ministers also agreed to proceed with the restoration of another section of the Ulster Canal — part of a £100 million scheme which will eventually provide navigable water from the North right through to the River Shannon and across the Republic.