The Progressive Unionist Party welcomes the agreement reached on Friday 10th April 1998.
There are aspects of this agreement that we would not be entirely happy with as would be the case with all the participants for various different reasons.
No one is entirely happy with the overall contents, however we feel that at least it presents an opportunity for politicians here to play an accountable, constructive role in the Governance and administration of our own affairs.
Contrary to some of the spins you may have already heard about it giving the Republic of Ireland a greater input into Northern Ireland affairs we feel this agreement would actually have the effect of reducing its influence. Since 1985, the Republic of Ireland through the Maryfield secretariat has had a greater influence than any of our elected representatives.
This is now going to be removed, any cross-border bodies established will be answerable to a Northern Ireland Assembly. This agreement reduces this influence.
We are living in a period of change. The lessons we have learned from resisting change in the past, has been that change will occur anyway and it is likely to go in the direction of those driving the agenda rather than those opposing it. We need to be influencing the agenda if we are not setting it, to ensure our interests are recognised, respected and are achievable. Britain is changing under New Labour, we as a constituent part of Britain are affected by the change.
We cannot allow our position to go by default as happened in 1985. We must give direction and leadership and we have an opportunity to develop an equitable, pluralist society. Let us not squander this opportunity.