Power Restored

By Anne Cadwallader

BELFAST — Britain once again devolved government from Westminster to Stormont on Tuesday morning after the Ulster Unionist Party voted narrowly to join with Sinn Fein and other parties in a reinstated power-sharing executive.

It was back to business at Stormont on Tuesday as civil servants bustled round their ministers, who were at their desks from early morning resuming their duties and preparing for the first meeting of the reconstituted executive on Thursday.

The devolution came after the 862-strong Ulster Unionist Council accepted the Hillsborough proposals, based on the IRA’s May 6 offer to put arms beyond use and allow inspectors to view a number of its arms dumps.

The transfer of power back to Northern Ireland takes the peace process beyond the recent deadlock that had dimmed hopes for shared power between Unionists and nationalists. The executive was suspended in February after only 10 weeks because of a intractable spat over IRA weapons.

But concerns linger over how the newly seated government will deal with the weapons issue, splits within Unionism, and a festering row over policing reforms.

As so often happens, good news in Northern Ireland was quickly shadowed by controversy.

Soon after the Unionist vote, Trimble antagonized Sinn Fein by saying the party was not "house-trained" and required "bringing to heel," both comments he refused to withdraw when challenged, saying it was normal politics.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Trimble should have withdrawn and apologized for "offensive and racist" remarks, but trusted, at least, he would not repeat them.

But at their first joint press conference on Monday, First Minister Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon of the SDLP sounded a more positive note. The two leaders stressed the importance of all sides working together to make the executive succeed.

Mallon said that people would not tolerate another cessation of the devolved Parliament.

"Any four-part coalition anywhere in the world is going to be difficult. But we will try to ensure we build up the type of collective approach required," he said.

"We have also got to lift our eyes above those factors that have divided the community in the past and re-instill the confidence and the hope amongst people on the ground."

After the UUC meeting, Trimble said there was a limit to the extent his party could stretch without an adequate response. Qualifying the re-establishment of shared government, Trimble called on the IRA to initiate a process of putting their weapons completely and verifiably beyond use.

"This promise must be delivered. I and my colleagues will hold republicans to their promises," he said. " If there is any foot dragging or delay, there will be difficulties."

With only a narrow return of support from his party’s vote, the Unionist leader also faces continuing dissent from within his own ranks. The Unionist voting was close. Trimble received a majority of 53 percent to 47, or 459 votes to 403, with one spoiled vote. The narrow margin has heightened concerns over party splintering.

After the UUC vote, dissident unionists were furious and pledged to fight on. MP William Ross described the result as a Pyrrhic victory. "This is the worst possible result for the party," he said.

The day before the UUC meeting, Trimble had rejected an alternative proposal for a phased implementation of the agreement raised by party dissident MP Jeffrey Donaldson. The proposal would have entailed the delay of the executive’s return until the IRA began decommissioning its weapons.

The last-minute backing of UUP deputy leader John Taylor for the return of power-sharing is believed to have been a key factor in Trimble’s victory. Taylor had been on a business trip to the Far East all week and held off his decision until the morning of the Council meeting.

Facing criticism, Taylor claimed he had a letter from the British government giving him pledges on the flying of the union flag and retaining the RUC’s name, two contentious issues within the party.

"I feel substantial progress has been made this week and give my backing for the resumption of the executive," he said before entering the meeting at the Waterfront Hall.

Policing is also a major concern for Sinn Fein after reports of further concessions to the Unionists on the Patten Commission reform in return for entering government with nationalists.

At his first Stormont press conference, after returning from the U.S., Adams said there would have to be changes in the police bill going through Westminster. The British government could not make joint declarations about implementing the Patten Report on policing one day and change its mind the next, the Sinn Fein leader said.