Northern Cabinet holds historic meeting at Stormont

Northern Ireland's devolved Cabinet met for the first time at Stormont this afternoon. The First Minister, David Trimble, and the Deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon, presided over the Cabinet at Parliament Buildings, although the two DUP ministers, Peter Robinson and Nigel Dodds, boycotted the meeting. Mr Mallon said afterwards that it was a good workmanlike meeting and if they continued in that vein it augured well for the future. The Cabinet is to meet again on Tuesday next. In Downing Street, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said that there was hope the hand of history was at last lifting the burden of terror and violence in the North.

25 years after the collapse of the last administration at Stormont, the new Cabinet met for 75 minutes. The First Minister David Trimble described the meeting as constructive, but he was heckled by a sole anti-Agreement protester as he emerged to address the media. Mr Trimble said that the Cabinet had discussed the question of next year's expenditure, the programme of Government and arrangements for the North-South and British-Irish Councils which will convene in the next two weeks. Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon echoed the views of Mr Trimble in regretting the absence of the two DUP Ministers who are refusing to sit down with the two Sinn Féin Ministers.

The DUP held a news conference at which Nigel Dodds described the day as the biggest betrayal of the last 30 years in Parliament Buildings. Peter Robinson claimed that they represented the overwhelming majority of the Unionist community, who are opposed to Republicans in government without prior decommissioning. The party leader, Ian Paisley, rejected suggestions that a new day had dawned for Northern Ireland.

The RUC Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, said that he was optimistic that the current political developments would bring lasting peace. He was visited this morning by the Conservative leader, William Hague, who gave his support to the process.