Mc Guinness Statement - northern Ireland

McGuinness welcomes agreement

 Speaking  at  Hillsborough this morning at the announcement of a deal on
 the  transfer of policing and justice powers from London to the North of
  Ireland Sinn Féin MP and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said:
  “Cuirim  fáilte  roimh  an  Taoiseach,  Príomh Aire na Breataine agus na
  páirtí uilig.
  “I  am  very pleased that we have concluded this agreement with the DUP.
  As everyone knows this has been a difficult negotiation.  This is hardly
  a  surprise  given  the reality that I am an Irish Republican and others
  here  have  a  completely different view. I believe in a united Ireland.
  They want to maintain the union with England.
  “This should not mean that we are incapable of respecting each other, of
  treating   one  another  as  equals  and  proceeding  on  the  basis  of
  partnership,  respect, fairness and equality. I am utterly determined to
  continue  to  work  in good faith and with a good heart with my unionist
  colleagues.  I  want to work in harmony with Peter Robinson for the good
  of the entire community.
  “That  is  what  Sinn Féin is about. We signed up for agreements on Good
  Friday  and  at  St.  Andrews and here today. We proceed on the basis of
  implementing these commitments.
  “We  have agreed that the transfer of policing and justice powers to our
  power  sharing government will happen on April 12th.  We have agreed and
  put  in  place a process which will see the powers which oversee parades
  transfer to our administration before the end of this year.
  “We  have  agreed  a  process  to  progress the rights of Irish Language
  speakers  and  North/South  aspects  of the St. Andrews Agreement.  Sinn
  Féin are in these political institutions to deliver for everyone. That’s
  what  Sinn  Féin Ministers and MLAs are here to do.  I am a Minister for
  all citizens.
  “We are also agreed on the need to deliver for our community, it is what
  they expect.  There are families and children living in poverty; elderly
  people  feeling  vulnerable  and  in  fear.   There  are  young families
  burdened  by massive mortgages and in fear of losing their homes; people
  without jobs.
  “Our government needs to reach out to these people. It needs to deliver.
  We  need to confront and defeat all kinds of hatred. With determined and
  courageous  leadership  we must continue to lead that shrinking minority
  out  of  the  trenches  of  the  past.  In this I am confident we can be
  assured  of  the  support of the vast majority of our people. We need to
  make life better for all our children and grandchildren.
  “That  is  what  this agreement must mean in practice. Fully functioning
  political  institutions  operated for the people in true partnership and
  equality.  Let  us  now  all  face  into  the  future with confidence in
  ourselves and in the people who elect us.” ENDS