Moving to `a new, more challenging phase, taking control and making the future work for us'

These past seven days have seen historic developments for the people of Ireland, North and South. The Northern Ireland Executive has been formed, the British-Irish Agreement has entered into force.

The Government met yesterday to make the declaration necessary to bring the constitutional change, so overwhelmingly endorsed by the people in referendums in May of last year, into effect, as we were required to do by the agreement reached on Good Friday last year.

We now have a balanced constitutional settlement, involving agreed changes to both British and Irish constitutional law based on the principles of self-determination and consent. In Ireland, North and South, we can now say with certainty, it is the people who are sovereign. We have, all of us, nationalists, unionists, republicans and loyalists, gained from this certainty.

For whatever path the people of Ireland take in the future, that path must be taken freely and nothing can be imposed, without reference to the people.

It is my firm view that the reformulated Articles 2 and 3 reflect modern, progressive republican thought. They are a clear and updated expression of our basic principles. They express the will to unity in strong terms and they enshrine the consent principle.

They provide a generous, inclusive definition of the Irish nation and keep faith with the pluralist tradition of Irish nationalism, stemming from Wolfe Tone.

With the entry into force of the British-Irish Agreement and the bringing into effect of constitutional change, we are now in a position to get the North-South Ministerial Council, the North-South Implementation Bodies, the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference working for the benefit of all the people of Ireland and of these islands.

We are putting in place a range of institutions which address all of the relationships on this island and between the islands of Ireland and Britain. The North-South Ministerial Council will develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest.

The implementation bodies encompassing trade and business, language, waterways, food safety, special EU programmes and aquaculture and marine matters make good practical sense and provide the vehicle for taking North-South co-operation to a new plane.

We have the opportunity for the two administrations, North and South, to work together in all areas of mutual benefit and to develop human and institutional bonds of trust and understanding. I am convinced that over time there will be deep interaction on an island basis.

This can only help to advance greater prosperity throughout the island.

THE British-Irish Council brings together all the administrations in these islands, including the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

The new British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, involving the two governments, will replace the existing Anglo-Irish Conference and will cover all matters of bilateral interest, with the special focus on non-devolved Northern Ireland issues.

There is now in place in Northern Ireland a cross-community Assembly and Executive. For the first time, representatives of all the major political groupings have their destiny in their own hands. The system of governance that we have put in place is unique and innovative. Because nothing of this type has ever been tried before, people will wonder can it work.

The Executive contains many familiar faces, people with strong views, representing parties with very different objectives. The challenge is for them to work together to bring a new deal for the people of Northern Ireland. I firmly believe that it can be done.

It is clear that we are not having a re-run of the old Stormont regime. In addition to the cross-community representation in the Executive, there are a range of checks and balances in place to ensure key decisions are taken on a cross-community basis. Chairpersons and deputy chairpersons have been appointed to committees which will shadow the main executive functions of the administration.

Ministers have taken a pledge of office. A pledge to discharge in good faith all the duties of office; to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means; to serve all the people of Northern Ireland equally; to act in accordance with the general obligations on Government; to promote equality and prevent discrimination; to participate with colleagues in the preparation of a programme for government; to operate within the framework of that programme when agreed within the Executive Committee and endorsed by the Assembly; to support and to act in accordance with, all decisions of the Executive Committee; and to comply with the Ministerial code of conduct.

All of this means that in order to fulfil their duties and obligations as Ministers, it will be in their own best interests to work together and work on a cross-party basis, with the chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of committees, for the good of the people of Northern Ireland.

We have, all of us, traversed a difficult path to reach where we are today. We have been supported by some extraordinary people, including President Bill Clinton and Senator George Mitchell. I would like to pay tribute to all of the leaders of the pro-agreement parties who have taken risks and displayed leadership of the highest order.

We all want to see the full implementation of the agreement, in all its aspects and terms. The role of General de Chastelain and his commission will be central in taking the decommissioning process forward, as all parties agree. Paramilitary organisations have, in the main, nominated their authorised representatives and the commission will meet them and will report very shortly afterwards. I hope and expect that these nominations will be completed shortly.

As we end one phase of this process, we move to a new, even more challenging phase, taking control and making the future work for us. These are exciting times. We have the opportunity to leave the tragedy and the conflict of the past behind us. We have the means of resolving deep-seated divisions. We know that there are threats to what we are trying to achieve.

DEEP-ROOTED sectarianism has been an evil at the core of much of what happened in Northern Ireland in the past. There are those who would resort to violence to achieve their ends, despite the expressed will of the people of Ireland, North and South.

If they try to wreck the agreement through violence, we will confront them. There are those who would prefer to engage in the failed politics of the past, rather than face a future based on partnership, equality, mutual respect and agreement.

But, as we have shown in recent weeks and months, we can overcome all of the obstacles to achieving a lasting peace.

And with peace, I am convinced that there can be true reconciliation. We must respect and cherish difference and diversity. We must recognise that there are different traditions and identities on this island and value their contributions.

I believe that we have the means, a framework, within which profound differences can be accommodated on the basis of consent. We have lived with the consequences of the failures of the past. We can now move into a new future, rich in the promise of peace, partnership and prosperity.