Parliament backs devolution deal

12 April 2012

Emergency legislation allowing Northern Ireland's historic power-sharing deal to go ahead on May 8 has been rushed through Parliament with all-party backing.

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

"Many victims of the struggles will find this moment especially painful," he said. "But we have reached a turning point in the history of Northern Ireland."

After Monday's ground-breaking deal, brokered by Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams, Mr Hain congratulated the Democratic Unionist leader's "courage and leadership" in sitting together with the Sinn Fein leader at Stormont.

"They took Northern Ireland closer to a final political settlement than anyone has ever before thought possible," he said.

It was a "graphic manifestation of the power of politics over intolerance, bitterness and horror".

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary David Lidington welcomed the Bill and offered his party's support for its passage.

"The Government's decision for a further delay of just a few weeks was a sensible and pragmatic response to the dramatic events of the last couple of days."

Mr Paisley said it was a "good day" for the House, a good day for the United Kingdom, and a good day for the "people of Ireland, north and south". There was a "star of hope" that could lead to a bright future.

Liberal Democrat frontbencher Lembit Opik welcomed the agreement as "momentous" and SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the developments of recent days "vindicated" those who always believed in power-sharing and the Good Friday Agreement.

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