Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I made that reference merely as a theoretical, philosophical point. These people are new found to an administration and they will have to find their way. I believe they will make mistakes and there will be forward and backward moves. However, I am struck by the parties' sense of purpose and their anxiety to make a go of it, of which I have no doubt they will. We should urge people on all sides to have a period of consolidation. It might be a time to take the foot off the accelerator on some aspects. We badly need to build up trust and to help people to move forward.

I noticed in Derry last night that as one crosses the bridge there are two pieces of sculpture, two statutes, one holding out a hand to the other but the hands do not quite touch. To the extent to which that is a symbol of the political situation in Northern Ireland, we must ensure that people can be encouraged to reach a little bit further and touch fingers and then turn that into a firm hand clasp. They will do that better by working together and building up the trust in dealing with the very real problems in society. They should park the great ideological and constitutional issues until they reach a level of security because it is too easy to mortgage the future by trying to replicate the past. This is a new beginning for everybody and they should treat it in that way.

My view is that the great challenge facing all of us, North and South, is to try to ensure that people can live together on this island in harmony, relative prosperity, with a sense of security and with good feelings towards the neighbouring island. In the short and medium term, it does not matter within what constitutional envelope we do that and in the long term who knows what will happen with the changes that are taking place in the world. We should encourage people to work together. In that sense Senator Brian Hayes made a constructive suggestion that the parliamentary tier of the North-South arrangements should be installed as quickly as possible. The getting together and movement of people is hugely important.

There are huge problems in Northern Ireland, especially in regard to the working class Protestant and Loyalist population. These are people who feel that they have lost out. They feel that the political tide has been flowing against them. They have seen the great industries which gave them their identity disappear. They, unfortunately, grew up in a culture and a tradition which because apprenticeship and work was available meant that schooling and education was less of a value than it was in the Catholic community. There needs to be a huge investment and huge care of that community. That is where Dr. Paisley and the DUP come in.

We should all push for the Loyalist paramilitaries to follow the line. That would be the final coping piece on the move to peace — that they too would down their arms. However, as of today it can only be a day for us to send congratulations to those who have done it and to send good wishes to those who have still to do so.