Leaders welcome agreement on policing in the North

President Mary McAleese and other political and religious leaders have welcomed the agreement announced on Friday, between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) as an historic breakthrough in the Northern peace process.

President McAleese said that the agreement, which will see the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster to the Assembly within weeks, was "a deeply significant day in the evolution of the Peace Process.”

She added that "after today’s agreement we can have more faith than ever that there is no turning back and that the most crucial ingredients for its long-term success - mutual respect and trust and a real sense of partnership - have at last begun to take root.”

The agreement will also provide new arrangements for overseeing Orange Order parades, a key demand of unionists.

The Catholic Primate of All-Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady also warmly welcomed the deal.

Referring to the deal on parades, he expressed the hope that "efforts to address the issue of parades will be met with generosity, sensitivity and a willingness to go beyond old ways of approaching each other on all sides.”

He added, "Respectful dialogue and a willingness to treat each other with dignity and respect have been shown time and time again to be the most effective way of resolving the issues which challenge our society."

The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Alan Harper, also welcomed the deal, adding, "The commitment of the political parties to bring the talks to a fruitful conclusion is to be praised and welcomed.”

Earlier, the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to announce the agreement.

Mr Cowen said the deal laid the foundations for a future "built on mutual respect for people of different traditions, equality and tolerance and respect for each other's political aspirations and cultural expressions and inheritance.”

Mr Brown also praised the settlement saying, “'The achievements have been as great as they are inspirational.  'This moment and this agreement belongs to the people of Northern Ireland, all of the people, and now more than ever before so does their future.”

by Tom O'Gorman