Since the N.I. Assembly will increasingly find itself under pressure due to the economic downturn, it must meet the challenge by learning to 'think outside the box'. What is difficult to understand is why some critical lessons have not been learnt from the National Government while other hare-brained proposals are being pursued with blind dedication.

Since the N.I. Assembly will increasingly find itself under pressure due to the economic downturn, it must meet the challenge by learning to 'think outside the box'. What is difficult to understand is why some critical lessons have not been learnt from the National Government while other hare-brained proposals are being pursued with blind dedication.

With the publication of the Saville report, Northern Ireland will be dragged back into one of the bloodiest years of our painful past. In 1972, 496 people died in our Troubles the highest death count during 30 years of violence. It was a year marked by bloodshed and grief: Bloody Sunday, Bloody Friday (when the IRA targeted Belfast's civilian population) and the murders of 17 police officers and 134 soldiers.

Addressing the annual meeting of the Ulster Unionist Party, Sir Reg Empey MLA commended his Party colleagues on a highly successful and challenging year.

My Lords, Just in case there is any doubt, I have been a lifelong devolutionist and I've also had the privilege of being at David Trimble's, now Lord Trimble's, right hand when he negotiated the Belfast Agreement. I would be happy if Northern Ireland was confident and able to deal with devolved Policing and Justice.

While I recognise that the secret deals of some and the naïve goodwill of others will bring about the devolution of policing and Justice, I cannot understand the means by which this Government has gone about the task.