The North's reinstated First Minister, Mr David Trimble, has expressed the hope that Northern Ireland has crossed the Rubicon and that it is entering a period of normal and stable politics.
Mr Trimble joined Deputy First Minister Mr Seamus Mallon at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, yesterday afternoon for a joint press conference - 10 hours before midnight when all the institutions of the Belfast Agreement were restored.
Ahead of the return today of the North's ministers to their departmental offices, Mr Trimble said: "We hope these institutions will take root. We hope that a new situation will develop within society. Certainly, for our part we will do everything we can to maximise the opportunity that's here for people.
"I hope we've come over the Rubicon this time but again, as with other events, we'll wait and see how things unfold."
He was asked about immediate problems confronting him, such as flags and the controversy surrounding his remarks about Sinn Fein needing to be "house trained" in order to operate properly in government. Some Sinn Fein politicians claimed his comments were racist and sectarian.
"I don't know how anybody could possibly get that [interpretation] on the basis of the comments. I was amazed at the reaction that has come from some people to the sort of thing that is the stuff of politics, as I understand it," said Mr Trimble.
"If I had used Aneurin Bevan's famous comment about Tories, then there might have been some reason for complaint, but not to the very mild comment that I made," said Mr Trimble. This was a reference to a speech by the British Labour leader Aneurin Bevan in 1948 when he said he had a "deep burning hatred for the Tory Party . . . So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin."
Mr Trimble said that the Executive would address the flags issue on Thursday. The next designated day for flying the Union flag is Friday and Mr Martin McGuinness again insisted yesterday that neither he nor ministerial colleague Ms Bairbre de Brun would allow the flag over their departments.
"My position on this has been clear for some time. Nobody is in any doubt how I feel. If people are making the argument that we have to respect one another, that we have to recognise there should be a respect for diversity, then people on all sides will have to face up to the reality that I come from a community that needs to be respected also," added Mr McGuinness.
"That is going to be painful and difficult for everybody to work through. We will not sort it out this week. We might not even sort it out next week or next month but it's an evolutionary process that we must move to." "Can we reach that point where, up the road, people will respect each other's flag, will respect each other's political opinions? I think we can," Mr McGuinness added.
Referring to the divisions in the UUP, Mr Trimble said there was "a very substantial minority of Unionists who are unhappy with the present arrangements and there are a variety of reasons for that".
Such apprehensions would recede if the IRA speedily carried out its promise to put arms beyond use. "I think those reasons would be addressed or at least diminished significantly if people carry out the undertakings they have given, fully, promptly and with a good spirit.
"But of course if there is the sort of foot-dragging we have had in the past, then obviously the disagreement and division within unionism will continue," he said.
Mr Trimble said if the DUP succeeded in putting down a motion seeking the exclusion of Sinn Fein from the Assembly it would be nothing more than an "empty gesture". The DUP needs 30 signatories to table such a motion. This would require one of the UUP's Assembly members currently taking the party whip to break ranks and support such a motion.
Mr Trimble said it "would be best" for the DUP to take its two ministerial positions. If the DUP's Mr Peter Robinson and Mr Nigel Dodds went back to their ministerial departments they should work collectively with their cabinet colleagues, he added.
"I think it is really quite invidious of people to enjoy office and to enjoy the emoluments of office, the position that office gives them, and yet to shirk some of the responsibilities that goes with that office."
