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Woodward looks to the future on anniversary

By Noel McAdam

Secretary of State Shaun Woodward will today mark the 10th anniversary of devolution going ‘live’ in Northern Ireland — with a message of hope for the next decade.

On December 2, 1999, powers and responsibilities formally passed from Westminster to Stormont as the power-sharing Executive, then led by Ulster Unionist David Trimble and SDLP deputy Seamus Mallon, met for the first time.

Mr Woodward said: “People have a choice at anniversaries; you can either look forward or back. I prefer to look to the future and the great opportunities that exist for everyone when the project is complete.

“The transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to the Assembly will send a clear signal around the world that Northern Ireland has a stable future. Investors will look at what Northern Ireland has to offer and new opportunities will inevitably follow.”

Former Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan, however, said it was a pity that devolution has operated for only slightly more than half of the 10-year period, with the first Executive dogged by the failure to resolve several issues, in particular decommissioning.

“The recent period of devolution has lacked innovation and the Assembly itself has been marginalised on something as fundamental as the budget,” the SDLP leader argued.

“Devolution will always be better than direct rule, but it is not being used or developed as it could be and should be.”

Belfast Telegraph

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