Church welcomes N Ireland deal: CEN 2.19.10 p 6.

The Church of Ireland has welcomed the deal struck last week by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein to save Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government.

On Feb 5 First Minister Peter Robinson (DUP) and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein) announced they had reached an agreement following two weeks of round the clock negotiations at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down.

The deal provides for policing and justice powers to be devolved from Westminster to the Stormont Assembly by April 12, while a timetable to establish an oversight board for loyalist parades has been established.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed the accord saying “this is the last chapter of a long and troubled story and the beginning of a new chapter after decades of violence, years of talks, weeks of stalemate,” while US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, ‘”today, Northern Ireland has taken another important step toward a full and lasting peace.

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt. Rev. Ken Good applauded agreement stating it was a “breakthrough” that could “release a logjam that has held back decision making in other areas of political life.”

The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Alan Harper concurred, stating that Northern Ireland had been “yearning for a settlement” of its political divisions.

“The commitment of the political parties to bring the talks to a fruitful conclusion is to be praised and welcomed. The fact that issues to do with parading and the Irish language also featured in the talks should be seen as offering additional confidence to both traditions in our society,” he said.

The next step, Dr. Harper said, was for a united Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly to address the economic situation in Ulster, especially the plight of small businesses, and be “bold in working together for the well being of all the people of Northern Ireland.”