It is time for Northern politicians to grasp the enormous opportunity, writes Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
One year ago, the IRA stated that it was ending its armed campaign and would decommission its weapons. At that time, I said I believed we were entering a new era for all the people on this island.
But of course, my hopes were mixed with caution.
There had been so many disappointments and unexpected setbacks in the past.
We needed to see words borne out by actions, such as the completion of decommissioning that occurred last September.
One year on, we can say with confidence that this truly is a new era.
At times, things may not seem any different.
To many, the same politicians seem to be having the same arguments about the same issues.
Many people are becoming switched off by what seems to be a never-ending process without any outcome.
But look closely and we can see huge changes are taking place - changes for the better.
The biggest change, of course, is the removal of the threat of violence with the ending of the IRA campaign and the completion of decommissioning.
That has transformed the entire situation and presented an enormous opportunity for the future.
But there are other changes as well.
Thankfully, this year saw one of the quietest Twelfth of July periods in many years. For that, credit goes to many people on both sides of the Northern community.
It required real leadership and courage on the part of many individuals, including political representatives who worked hard on the ground.
Of course it does not mean that the issues around parades have been solved overnight, but it is a hopeful sign for the future.
There are also increasing signs that people in the loyalist community want to play their part in transforming the position of their community and in ending paramilitarism and criminality from the loyalist side.
The 90th anniversaries of the 1916 Rising and the Battle of the Somme showed a new maturity in relationships within the island and between Ireland and Britain.
The Rising commemoration was a fitting celebration of our independence and reflected the new Ireland, where peaceful and constitutional methods have prevailed and relations with our nearest neighbour have never been better.
The commemoration of the Battle of the Somme accorded long-overdue recognition to all those Irish soldiers, from all traditions, who fought in the Great War.
As was evident from the many positive reactions received, it was also appreciated as a gesture from this State to unionists - in a spirit of friendship and of respect for their history, identity and tradition.
The deepening relationship between North and South has also been expressed in the economic and social fields. This year, we have made progress on important new North/South initiatives on infrastructure, on energy, on spatial planning, on the island economy, on cancer treatment, on free travel for pensioners, and on the development of the north west.
I led a trade mission to India with companies from both sides of the Border, and this week the two governments have agreed to co-operate on future missions and to share facilities in their trade offices oversees.
These new ideas have complemented the already extensive programme of work being undertaken by North/South bodies such as InterTradeIreland and Tourism Ireland.
North/South co-operation can only go from strength to strength in the years ahead.
All of this has been made possible by the Good Friday agreement.
It remains, as Tony Blair and I reiterated when we met in Armagh in April, the indispensable framework for relations on and between these islands.
In the autumn, we will focus on the full implementation of all aspects of the agreement.
We have set out what has to be done. The Northern Ireland Assembly was recalled in May with the primary responsibility to elect a first and deputy first minister and elect an executive. A number of Assembly committees are working to address the key issues.
We recognised in April that some time will be required, but we also said that there must be a clear limit. That is why we have set a firm deadline of November 24th.
We have published a work plan that sets out clearly, month-by-month, what needs to happen between now and November.
We have also made clear that if the deadline is not met, the Assembly will be put in cold storage and we will put in place new British-Irish partnership arrangements to ensure our effective joint stewardship of the Good Friday agreement.
Some people don't believe the two governments are serious about the deadline. Others may think that the Good Friday agreement can somehow be replaced.
They are wrong on both counts.
We are being straight with the political parties and straight with the people.
Despite all the progress, we know the dangers if we become complacent.
There are still those, a tiny minority, who thrive on hatred and violence.
Sectarianism and division remains a very real threat to a peaceful shared future.
It is therefore the duty of everybody to stand up for peace, democracy, equality and the rule of law. Political leaders have a responsibility to show leadership and to work together for the good of all of the people.
It is now up to the parties to take responsibility and do the job they were elected to do.
With the support of the two governments, they need to sit down and agree to restore to full operation the democratic institutions that were established by the people.