McGuinness and Robinson relations thaw as 'better atmosphere' prevails

THERE IS “a better atmosphere” now between the North’s First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness following the Hillsborough Castle Agreement, according to Mr McGuinness.

Mr McGuinness and Mr Robinson said yesterday they were determined to make powersharing politics work, notwithstanding the previous poor relationship between them, which they acknowledged.

It was “full steam ahead” on implementing the proposals in the Hillsborough deal, said Mr McGuinness, while Mr Robinson added that there were “no smoke and mirrors” to the deal and that it was fully supported by Sinn Féin and the DUP.

Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness, when briefing the press yesterday morning and later yesterday afternoon when addressing an Assembly committee, defended the Hillsborough agreement as the best means of moving forward on a wide range of issues but principally on creating a Department of Justice by April 12th and revamping the parading structures by the end of the year.

“There is an inclusive process,” said Mr McGuinness. He was also asked was the apparent improvement in relationships between the two men actually genuine considering previous “false dawns” about First Minister and Deputy First Minister working productively together. “There is a better atmosphere now,” Mr McGuinness said. He added that he and Mr Robinson were determined to maintain that positive and improving atmosphere. “Divided we are weak, united we are strong.” Mr McGuinness acknowledged that over much of last year the issue of policing and justice had created a poor working relationship between them but with the Hillsborough deal “as far as I am concerned all that is in the past”.

Mr Robinson agreed that policing and justice had been a “toxic” matter but politics was moving forward. “If I had said to any of you that we would be sitting here today having agreed a way forward on policing and justice, and parading, and how to reinvigorate the Executive, and that we would have unanimous support within our two parties, very few of you would have accepted such a claim. But that is precisely where we are,” he said.