St Andrews Agreement
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The St Andrews Agreement is an agreement proposed by the British and Irish Governments in relation to the devolution of power to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The agreement resulted from multi-party talks held in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland between 11 October and 13 October 2006. All major parties, including Ian Paisley's<ref>Ian Paisley left St Andrews quickly after attending the Press Conference in order to be with his family for his fiftieth wedding anniversary.</ref> Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin have given the agreement their initial assent.
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[edit] The agreement
Key elements of the agreement include the full acceptance of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) by Sinn Féin, restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and a committment by the DUP to power-sharing with republicans and nationalists in the Northern Ireland Executive. The governments' plan envisages the devolution of policing and justice powers within two years from the creation of the Executive. The parties were given until 10 November 2006 to respond to the draft agreement. The first and deputy first minister would be appointed on 24 November 2006. There was a target date of 26 March 2007 for a new executive to be up and running, after a general election on 7 March 2007.
The North Ireland (St Andrews agreement) ACT 2006, which implements the agreement, received Royal Assent on 22 November 2006.
[edit] Reaction
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain called the agreement an "astonishing breakthrough" on BBC Five Live.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that if the deadlines set by the two governments were not met, "the plan falters and there will be a move to plan B with no more discussions."
Ian Paisley said "Unionists can have confidence that its interests are being advanced and democracy is finally winning the day." He also said "Delivering on the pivotal issue of policing and the rule of law starts now."
Gerry Adams said that the plans needed to be consulted on, but restoring the political institutions was an "enormous prize".
Reg Empey, Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party described the agreement as the "Belfast Agreement for slow learners".
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said welcome progress had been made towards restoring the power sharing institutions.
Alliance Party leader David Ford said the outcome was a mix "of challenges and opportunities".<ref>BBC News 14 October 2006</ref>
The UKUP's leader Robert McCartney is reported to have rejected the power-sharing arrangements of the new agreement as undemocratic.<ref>First glitch on the NI political road? BBC.</ref>
Introducing the Second Reading of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Bill, in the House of Lords, Government spokesperson Lord Rooker said that failure to follow the timetable would see the Northern Ireland Assembly dissolved.
[edit] The 10 November deadline
The Joint Statement of 13 October stated that the governments had "asked parties, having consulted their members, to confirm their acceptance by 10 November." On that date, a Sinn Féin statement said that on 6 November "the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle mandated the party leadership to follow the course set out at St. Andrews and to continue with the ongoing negotiations to resolve the outstanding issues" and that they "firmly believed that all of the outstanding difficulties can be resolved." The DUP statement said that "as Sinn Féin is not yet ready to take the decisive step forward on policing, the DUP will not be required to commit to any aspect of power sharing in advance of such certainty." Although neither statement constituted "acceptance" of the agreement, both governments maintained that there was sufficient endorsement from all parties to continue the process.
[edit] The 24 November deadline
The Joint Statement stated that "the Assembly will meet to nominate the First and Deputy First Minister on 24 November." In the days preceding the Assembly meeting the two governments said that it would be sufficient for the parties to "indicate" who their nominations for First and Deputy First Minister would be. When the Assembly met on 24 November, Ian Paisley said that "circumstances have not been reached that there can be a nomination or a designation this day," adding that "if and when committments are delivered, the DUP would enter government." Gerry Adams, the Sinn Féin leader, nominated Martin McGuinness for the post of Deputy First Minister. Following the unexpected adjournment of the Assembly<ref>The proceedings were disrupted by the loyalist paramilitary Michael Stone, when he entered the building armed with a gun, a knife and homemade explosives. Stone was wrestled to the ground on entry and disarmed by security staff, the devices were defused and the building was evacuated (msn news).</ref> Mr. Paisley, in a statement, said: "Everyone already knows that in those circumstances after they are delivered I would accept the first minister's nomination." Both governments maintained that this was sufficient indication for the process to continue.
[edit] The 26 March deadline
The Northern Ireland (St Andrews agreement) Act 2006 states that following an election to the Assembly on 7 March 2007, ministerial offices to be held by Northern Ireland Ministers will be filled under the d’Hondt system on 26 March. If the ministerial offices cannot be filled on that date, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will make an order dissolving the Assembly, and the St Andrews Agreement will fall.
[edit] Footnotes
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