Shaun Woodward speaks to Conference
Conference,It was Seamus Heaney who wrote:
...once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
of justice can rise up,
And hope and history rhyme.
This year, on May 8th in Northern Ireland, that once in a lifetime tidal wave rose up and indeed hope and history rhymed.
The seemingly impossible gave way to a future being shared.
As Ian Paisley put it, 'Northern Ireland has come to a time of peace, a time when hate will no longer rule.'
The Change
Conference, restoring local democracy in May this year, devolving power in Northern Ireland, is indeed the triumph of hope.
Two communities, divided by conflict, are being united by history.
Now we enter the final chapter.
A story as hopeful as it was tragic.
The Troubles - across four decades taking nearly 4000 lives - now giving way to the agreement to share power.
Power in Stormont exercised not by direct rule, but by a Unionist and a Republican. First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness, elected by people across Northern Ireland.
Power exercised by the Executive drawn from the four political parties.
In devolving power, this Labour Government is helping deliver a new future.
What a different life for the child born in Belfast or Omagh today, from the child born in 1972.
This - Conference - is the practical demonstration Government can achieve when it serves the people.
It is an answer to the cynic of our politics.
As Tony Blair said, May 8th this year was a day doing ' a power of good for optimists everywhere.'
So let us take great pride in the leadership given by Tony Blair and Mo Mowlem, bringing an end to the Troubles.
Some may regard their work as duty.
You know their work went well beyond duty.
At its heart, a determination to use power to forge a better world. Finding no better expression and legacy than Stormont today.
Conference, for the work of the Irish Government, to Tony Blair and successive Ministers and Secretaries of State.
From Peter Hain, Paul Murphy, John Reid, Peter Mandelson and of course Mo Mowlam.
Our thanks Conference to them.
The Task Ahead
If a week is a long time in politics, ten years may seem an eternity.
Since 1997, seismic change.
You promised the country, Things could only get better.
They have.
I know that.
They did for me
Eight years ago I joined the Labour Party!
And I am deeply honoured to be here this morning, addressing Conference as your Labour Secretary of State.
Conference, we still have an important task to complete.
Devolving policing and criminal justice.
And with Paul Goggins and Jeff Rooker, Ministers of State, we will work to that end.
The St Andrews Agreement was clear.
Not an a la carte menu for devolution.
The second, completing stage is as vital as the first.
It must be done.
It should be done.
Done because it is the right thing to do.
To those we ask to invest in the future of the children of Northern Ireland - what greater commitment could there be, than local politicians taking their responsibility for law and order?
When Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, he was as clear as his predecessor of the importance of completing our work.
It will come as no surprise Gordon has wholly committed himself, to help new Assembly politicians, bring new and vital investment to Northern Ireland.
Now, we need these politicians, ensure stability is enshrined for new investment.
Local politicians taking responsibility for policing on the streets of Lisburn or Derry.
Responsibility for criminal justice.
The task is already underway.
Sinn Fein have joined the Policing Board.
The symbolism in West Belfast of Gerry Adams shaking hands with the Chief Constable was a global front page story.
As powerful an image, as Ian Paisley welcoming Irish President Mary McAleese in Belfast last week.
Or in February next year, Sinn Fein joining Policing District Partnerships.
Each hugely symbolic.
Each significant.
Great strides. Ensuring a shared future - isn't just an aspiration.
But a future, shared.
David Trimble was right when he said, in the past, Northern Ireland was ' a cold house for Catholics'.
Today, as Ian Paisley said, ' we are all aiming to build a Northern Ireland in which we can all live together in peace, being equal under the law. And equally subject to the law'.
The Past
That's why it's so essential to complete devolution.
Why it is vital to find the means to deal with The Past.
The past can't be forgotten.
Indeed it should never be forgotten.
Too many have given too much.
But as John Kennedy said to the Irish Parliament, as the first serving President to visit an independent Ireland in 1963:
'...we need not feel the bitterness of the past to discover its meaning for the present and the future.'
That is why we have asked Archbishop Eames and Dennis Bradley to head the Consultative Group.
Can they find a consensus to deal with the Past?
It won't be easy.
But if we found a consensus to create the Good Friday Agreement, can the same optimists find a route, to ensure Northern Ireland is not held in its past, but can build on its past?
The Future
Conference, the history of Northern Ireland has indeed begun a new chapter.
Perhaps even a new story altogether.
It is a story of leadership and hope.
And perhaps there is no better proof, than a Conference in Finland, held just three weeks ago.
Its purpose to bring together political leaders and see what lessons might be drawn, to help find a way forward, in an area of terrible conflict.
Among its delegates, Jeffrey Donaldson and Martin McGuiness.
Two politicians, once locked in seemingly irreconcilable conflict, working together to bring new hope.
But their conference was not about Northern Ireland.
But about Iraq.
As Nelson Mandela brought his message of hope from South Africa nearly two decades ago.
So today a Unionist and a Republican bring their message of hope, to another region of this troubled world.
So Conference, take pride and heart from Northern Ireland.
Justice can rise up.
Hope and history have rhymed.
Thank you.
Andrew Paul Message left at 06:02 am, Fri 28th Sep 2007
A Plan to Make All Countries Near-Zero Carbon Emitters Within Ten Years Dear Comrades I have been campaigning for a government driven campaign to make the UK a Near-Zero Carbon Country since shortly
after I invented the Buxton Geothermal Turbine Generator in the 1980s. Twenty years down the line the UK has done nothing, and I get the run around from various government departments. I am sure that
these same people will give me the run around for another ten years, when it will be too late to stop global warming. It is difficult to get hold of all the figures necessary to show that countries
can become near-zero carbon countries. However, there is a simple explanation that adequately reveals how this necessary target can be achieved. All our power requirements are for lighting, heating,
transport, and energy for such things as industry on down to exercise machines. To make things simple we can assume that each category is 25% of total power. The lighting can be zero rated by
building Buxton Geothermal Turbine Generators, the heating can be near-zero rated by installing Starlite coatings, that prevents heat escaping, on the walls and ceilings of all premises, and by
having electrical heating from renewable sources we cut heating CO2 emissions to zero. Transport can be made near-zero in terms of carbon emissions by ensuring that all vehicles use carbon zero
electricity, instead of petrol. This may seem to be an anathema to ‘‘petrol heads’’ but this displeasure can be simply overcome. At the moment when inventors come up with new technologies for
electrical vehicles Oil Companies buy and destroy the patents and designs. These patents have a shelf life of ten years so we could soon put together a group of past inventors in this field to
reproduce their work legally, as an intergovernmental team. We still have the problem of transport by aeroplane and ship having to use fossil fuels. However, their carbon footprints can be at least
halved by having their fuels mixed with water using an ultrasonic dibber. Finally, the power needed for energy can be made entirely of carbon free electricity. New ways of making industry work using
electricity instead of the gas that they are used to will be needed, but these are not insurmountable problems given that the Governments of the world have ten years to achieve the target. All
Government Departments must be part of the solution to the greatest threat to life on earth. They must work together, there is no point in hoping that the ‘invisible hand’ of the market has the
ability to pay for such a massive clean up. In comparison, the threat of terrorism is a minor side show, and we would not leave the market to this task. The £60 billion being spent on replacing
Trident submarines would have solved CO2 emission problems in the UK. This does not mean to say that this was our last chance, just a step in the wrong direction. Funding can be found from elsewhere.
‘The Ecologist’ magazine estimates the true cost of mental illness to the UK is £100 billion per year. When all patients suffering from mental illness are passed on to their trained local practice
nurse for a thirty second cure using the Kadir-Buxton Method then we have immediate and massive savings.(The alternative of expensive drugs which, in trials, have less success than no treatment at
all, should be made a thing of the past). The money saved by the UK would not only clean up CO2 emissions in the UK using the above plan, but also build a large ‘war chest’ to be spent before the
next General Election. Yours sincerely ‘Red Rose Andy’ Kadir-Buxton The Inventor of the Labour Party Red Rose Logo, Labour Party Credit Card, and New Labour Slogan Please sign my petition to cut CO2
Emissions by 30% and more at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/CO2Reduction/
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Mark Message left at 03:01 pm, Mon 24th Sep 2007
Good speech, as a guy who grew up in Northern Ireland and played my part in getting the people of NI to vote for the 1998 referendum, I cannot believe the progress made. Just one little thing, surely
the Labour party conference website should be able to spell Mo Mowlam's name properly!
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Pat Message left at 12:39 pm, Mon 24th Sep 2007
What a great speech and superbly delivered. Well done Shaun!
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