The power, influence and monopoly which unionism used to wield over Northern Irish affairs is "over, done with and gone" according to Mr Gerry Adams.
He told the Assembly that those within unionism who could not accept this were "more to be pitied than to be scorned".
The Sinn Fein president reaffirmed his party's commitment to "every aspect" of the Belfast Agreement and urged "speedy movement" on approval of the First and Deputy First Ministers' report outlining full details of the 10 government departments, North-South co-operation, the British-Ireland council and the civic forum. Mr Adams said there was "new potential" for politics in the North with the replacement of old divisions and the emergence of the new "pro" and "anti" agreement divide. He added that two-thirds of the parties in the Assembly would back the report, thereby placing the onus on the British government to transfer power on March 10th.
There was disruption in the public gallery as Mr Adams began the opening lines of his speech in Irish. The Initial Presiding Officer designate, Lord Alderdice, said he would clear the gallery if further disturbances occurred.
Mr Bob McCartney of the anti-agreement UK Unionist Party said he did not agree with the politics held by Mr Adams, "but I do think he has a right to be heard".
Mr Adams said that his party would support the report despite "reservations" it held on some aspects. He said the absence of a stand-alone department of equality was a "negative step".
He also criticised the "fracturing" of the education portfolio between a number of departments and the absence of a junior ministry for children. The leader of the Alliance Party, Mr Sean Neeson, said the March 10th deadline must be met. "Deliver and deliver on time," he stressed. Mr Neeson again reiterated his proposal that Mr Trimble and Mr Adams meet with the International Decommissioning Body together.