The Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, has outlined the British government's timetable for devolution and the setting-up of the Assembly following last week's breakthrough in the Mitchell review.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Women's Coalition in Newcastle, Co Down, on Saturday, Mr Mandelson said thanks to the foundations laid by Northern Ireland's politicians over the past few days, he was at last able to map out the precise steps which would deliver the "twin prizes" of devolution and decommissioning.
On November 29th, Mr Mandelson will convene a meeting of the Assembly to trigger the d'Hondt mechanism, under which ministers are nominated. Once the 10 ministers have been nominated, the devolution order will be laid before the Westminster Parliament the following day.
Devolution will take place on December 2nd. On the same day, both governments will also bring into effect the British-Irish Agreement.
The Northern Secretary said the outlined steps would demand trust from both sides. "But with my own eyes I have seen trust grow and flourish over the last weeks. It will take patience and understanding, but those are the precise qualities that have brought us where we are today." Mr Mandelson praised local political leaders, singling out the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, for "his tireless efforts" in making the Belfast Agreement work.
"David Trimble has brought unionism closer to its cherished goal than any other leader of his party ever could. The challenge of government will ask new questions of unionism. David Trimble has prepared his party to answer them. Sharing power with republicans and nationalists will demand flexibility and self-belief in equal measure. David Trimble has equipped his party with those very qualities."
Mr Mandelson had equally appreciative words for the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, who, he said, was a man with the "vision to recognise that his community was best served by being represented at the heart of an inclusive democracy". Mr Adams had the will and courage to turn that vision into reality, Mr Mandelson added.
As for the SDLP, fairness and an unshakeable commitment to rights and equality had "no more eloquent advocates than John Hume and Seamus Mallon".
Mr Mandelson extended his praise to the smaller pro-agreement parties, who he said had "persuaded, cajoled and harried" the main parties when they appeared to hang back.
"It is an honour to address today the party that has most symbolised that contribution. You have always believed that politics must transcend the old dogmas that blocked progress for so long. Your politics is not about nationalist against unionist, Catholic against Protestant. It is about respect against intolerance, democracy against tyranny, peace against violence. It is about making a real, palpable difference to people's everyday lives," he told the 70 or so delegates.
"We now have a realistic chance to enter `a new era of respect and tolerance of cultural difference and expression'. Not my words, but David Trimble's.
"It is now in our power to `put behind us the failures, the tragedy and the suffering of the past'. Not my words, but those of Sinn Fein.
"This is the time of greatest hope for Northern Ireland," Mr Mandelson concluded to a standing ovation.