Royal announcement is the next chapter in positive story

Shaun Woodward MP, Labour’s Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, commenting on the news that the Queen will visit Ireland, said: 

Shaun Woodward's speech to Labour Party Conference

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Shaun Woodward MP, Labour's Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, speaking to Labour Party Conference today, said: ... more

Shaun Woodward's speech to Labour Conference 2009

Labour's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shaun Woodward's speech at the 2009 Labour Party Annual Conference:

Conference, There are many achievements of which this Labour Government can be very proud.

Ranking very high, must be your determination to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

A goal eluding many before.

Ceasefires come and gone.

Agreements and Declarations signed. Peace eluded.

An impossible dream.

But perseverance, determination and the strongest of leadership prevailed.

In 1998 the Belfast Agreement signed.

The historic moment. Celebrated round the world. Real peace for Northern Ireland.

Agreements are foundations.

They provide footings on which we build.

On those foundations we create our home.

St Andrews Agreement secured that home.

Crucially the DUP now part of those negotiations.

Part of the stability created between the British and Irish Governments.

A new Assembly.

A new Executive.

Shared power between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

People in Northern Ireland taking control of their destiny.

Yet not complete.

The agreement to transfer policing and justice powers not resolved.

A process begun. Not brought to an end.

Conference, I do not underestimate, the significance or need for this last remaining part of the jigsaw, to be put in place.

On Tuesday the Prime Minister made clear his continuing commitment to seeing this business done.

Neither the Prime Minister nor I take for granted the work to be done.

The steps for some, may seem small.

For others, are still great.

Indeed, precisely because we recognize the nature of the “ask”, rightly the Prime Minister has doubly committed to see the business through.

Through fairly.

Reflecting the needs of everyone in Northern Ireland.

We know that for some this is about finance.

To feel sure the Justice Department has resources to meet challenges which must be faced, and those inescapable demands - a legacy of the Troubles.

For some, a concern for resources to meet extraordinary demands arising from cowardly attack.

For, however small in number these criminals may be, the deadly threat a relatively small number, self styling themselves dissidents, still pose.

And Conference, nothing made this more tragically clear, than the brutal murders of two brave young soldiers, Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey at the Massereene Barracks in March of this year.

And Constable Stevie Carroll, the first police officer to be murdered in Northern Ireland in ten years.

For their bravery and for their families Conference let us never forget what they gave, to ensure the peace.

And let me say to all the communities of Northern Ireland, we will not leave your outstanding and brave PSNI, without the capacity to meet this criminal challenge.

We proved this when we met the needs of the police immediately after these attacks.

And we will do so again, if extraordinary need should demand.

We will not walk away from the people of Northern Ireland.

This Labour Government will both recognize their rights.

And we will honour our responsibilities.

For some this is about specific issues relating to the past.

For others, about whether it is the right to march.

Or the right to protest peacefully.

These rights and responsibilities will be fully respected. In a climate of mutual trust. And tolerance of different traditions.

Conference, let us be in no doubt, the achievement has been great.

But the final task remains vital.

It is a task at hand.

No-one can afford to take any part of this achievement for granted.

And whilst I know in my heart, every politician in Northern Ireland will work to secure the peace and the politics, now is the time to demonstrate again that resolve.

To make that “ask”.

For this last part of the jigsaw is not just about what each may win.

But about what each can give.

For there is much at stake.

And this last part of the process, is also about a choice.

A choice not without consequence.

If the road we take, that road not yet travelled, is the right one, then the prize too is great.

Last week Conference, President Clinton hosted a meeting in New York on future investment, future jobs in Northern Ireland.

Rightly he brought together the First and Deputy First Ministers, as well as myself and the Irish Foreign Minister to address a huge audience of American CEOs and business leaders.

Conference, never forget there are 42 million Irish Americans who want to invest in the shared future of Northern Ireland.

America wants to put its money where their hearts truly rest.

To create jobs.

Opportunity for those with whom they have the deepest and strongest ties.

Conference, let me thank President Clinton and Secretary of State Clinton for their unstinting support for the people and the work of politicians of Northern Ireland.

And be in no doubt, this commitment is shared by President Obama himself.

America has given the strongest backing to the Prime Minister,  as he works to close differences between the Parties.

The new Economic Northern Ireland Envoy, Declan Kelly stands ready to help bring those jobs to Northern Ireland.

And the cue on which he waits, is the stability won in the Agreements.

Put into practice by this Executive.

And which, on completing agreement to transfer policing and justice powers, can follow.

For this is the signal of enduring stability.

A critical last step.

A move - which in seeking the confidence of the communities of Northern Ireland, also sends a signal of confidence to the world.

Not just a signal between the Irish and British Governments – although it is such a beacon.

But a signal between the Parties of Northern Ireland.

An agreement made in Belfast.

Not on the Parties.

But by the Parties. Between the Parties.

Conference, we are in the last part of the journey.

The final remaining bridge to cross.

It is my abiding optimism, and of the Prime Minister, this challenge not only can, but will be met.

And Conference, in being bridged, this truly will give Northern Ireland the peace, the security.

And the prosperity and jobs, people so rightly deserve.

Let the impossible dream, now be, the lasting reality.

Thank you.

Shaun Woodward speaks to Labour Party Conference

Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, spoke to Labour Party Conference on Sunday 21 September.

- check against delivery -

Conference, it's good to back in Manchester.

It's an honour to serve this Party as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. And I know I speak also for my Ministerial colleagues Paul Goggins and in the Lords Jeff Rooker.

Conference, ten years ago, you - with Mo Mowlam - celebrated the signing of an Agreement which marked the transformation of Northern Ireland.

Through dialogue, through politics winning, it was a new beginning.

New institutions. An Assembly formed. A power sharing Executive.

But the strain was beyond burden.

Too soon for devolved politics to prevail against the challenges of government.

Government is hard.

But this new beginning -  which the people in each community voted for in their Referendum. And which secured a majority in both communities.

This beginning was here to stay.

Always we worked with the political parties and the Irish Government, to find solutions.

No clear route map. But determination. Reflecting the people's desire we find a way through.

And so we looked forward to a new Agreement.

Found it in St Andrews.

And as we marked last year, a new Assembly elected - all the parties committed to devolution.

And a new power sharing Executive followed.  Ian Paisley as First Minister. Martin McGuiness as Deputy First Minister.

It marked a new chapter in the story of politics.

Not violence, but politics -  the vehicle for resolving division.

Of course - still differences.

For some these remain large.

And progress here is about are trust.

My hope is today, there is no single difference - too great for resolution.

We knew the road to transfer policing and justice to Northern Ireland, would be long and winding.

And it is our job - our  purpose -to help the parties find resolution.

Conference, there are very positive signs we can work it through.

It will still require great acts of leadership from the political parties.

Of understanding. Tolerance. Mutual respect.

But I believe there is a collective will to succeed.

Time can be a deadline. But time can also be a friend.

This week our Prime Minister came to Northern Ireland making his historic address to the Assembly.

Reflect for a moment in its significance.

A British Prime Minister, addressing for the first time this elected Assembly.

It is a tense period in Northern Ireland.

The Executive has not met -  since June.

It needs to meet. There is business to be agreed.

The Parties need to find a way forward.

But also tense, because there is work to be done on policing and justice.

Gordon's message was clear. Let politics work through your differences.

We understand the obstacles.

But we can also see the progress.

We know for some Unionists, this is a difficult final step.

But we believe from polling there is a majority -  in each community -  to complete devolution within twelve months.

You can't demand trust. We know you have to build trust.

And through understanding and mutual respect trust is building.

We promise to work to build that trust and confidence.

And we promise to help ensure that when the Parties agree the transfer we will provide the help to ensure success.

We will not walk away from you.

We stand with you.

That's why last Tuesday Gordon went to Belfast.

It was a day with plenty of demands on a Prime Minister's time.

Markets in turbulence around the world.

Speculation about banks. Even local 'stuff'!

But his commitment to the people of Northern Ireland is resolute.

He wouldn't let them down.

Conference - our work as a Government in Northern Ireland so brilliantly reflects the values of this Party.

A recognition there is nothing we can't achieve, if we are prepared to work together, in our call to service.

There is no problem, no issue, no obstacle which cannot be moved, if we are prepared to work through difficulty in pursuit of the greater good.

That for those most vulnerable, Government stands ready to help - not walk on the other side.

That Government be there for the needs of the many and not the interests of the few.

Especially when it's toughest.

When you face the greatest unknowns.

And in times when solutions aren't clear -  then you really look for leadership.

You, need to count on your Leader.

And your Leader should know, he can count on you.

Leadership has delivered in Northern Ireland.

And it continues to defy the sceptics.

Just two weeks ago the Independent Monitoring Commission delivered its special report on the IRA. It confirmed the IRA had met its obligations and kept its word.

The Army Council is now redundant.

Through conscious decisions, its military structures disbanded or consciously allowed to wither away.

And in answer to the question, would the IRA  return in some future time to violence and terrorism?

The answer - an unequivocal NO.

The New Threat

There is still a threat today in Northern Ireland.

But not from the IRA.

Those other threats are nonetheless very real.

And the level of threat, one fundamentally to the police officers of the PSNI, today higher than any time in five years.

In the last nine months, these dissident groups - the criminals who refuse to accept the will of the people of every community in Northern Ireland - these small but potentially deadly people have stepped up the targeting of police officers.

One example - an off duty officer, after dropping his child at school was shot five times in the chest at point blank range.

Thankfully he is alive.

Other attacks have been equally brutal. Equally cowardly. Equally pointless.

For these criminals have no support from the community on any side.

Until recently their ability to influence young misguided people found a counterweight with the evidence that politics was winning.

We must be careful that dissidents have no opportunity to exploit any vacuum, which may open if politics loses its momentum.

For this too is about community confidence.

There is no question of Northern Ireland going back.

But to go forward the Parties must continue working through their differences.

Their Leaders need to be supported in their acts of leadership, of courage and of faith.

Every step along the way has helped transform for the better the lives of each community in Northern Ireland.

What community is worse because of an end to the car bombs? Mortar attacks? The sniper's shot? Or the work to address organized crime?

Politics is winning.

There is great cause for continued optimism and hope in Northern Ireland.

And if politics is seen to have won in Northern Ireland, then why not in the Middle East? In Zimbabwe? In Iraq?

Conference, through our values and your will.

Your belief things could in Northern Ireland be better, politics is winning.

With your help, your solidarity, it is my profound belief this Government, your Government, will help those in Northern Ireland achieve their fervent and brightest hopes.

And if we succeed - for Labour  - it will truly be one of our finest achievements as a Government.

Conference, we work to finish the job.

Thank You.


Ends