It has taken time, but at last attention has turned to reform of the legal system in the North. The Seamus Treacy and Barry MacDonald judicial review action has, of course, played a major part in this. The controversy over the delayed Criminal Justice Review report has also focused minds.

There is a well-founded suspicion that senior elements in the legal establishment are reluctant to embrace the changes promised in the Good Friday agreement.

Add to this the claims that Peter Mandelson's suspension of the institutions was illegal and you find that the legal system has somewhat belatedly entered the political fray.

It is possible to dismiss all this as so much legalism, but this is a seriously mistaken position. For the promises contained in the agreement will ultimately depend upon effective legal enforcement. This is especially so in relation to the human rights elements, which will depend on a transformation of the legal culture in Northern Ireland.

The agreement committed participants to the protection of the human rights of all. One aspect of this was the creation of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. On the March 1st, 2000, the commission will begin its consultation process on drafting a Bill of Rights.

The agreement refers to protection which goes beyond the European Convention on Human Rights and which reflects the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland. There is also reference to mutual respect and parity of esteem in relation to "both communities".

There is good reason to adopt an inclusive and expansive approach to this Bill of Rights exercise and one could not seriously argue that human rights can be confined to "both communities" only.

A bill of rights should, as the agreement indicates, protect the human rights of all. The Bill of Rights exercise comes at a important time in the argument over human rights law enforcement.

A key aspect of this debate must be detailed consideration of the legal system in the North. The proper and effective enforcement of human rights is likely to depend on creative representatives and open-minded decision-makers.

Reform of the legal system, with a strong emphasis on the creation of a human rights culture, is essential at all levels of legal education and legal practice.

Bringing human rights into the mainstream will require deep-rooted change and it is now clear that this is obviously painful for many. However, it is vital that this promise at least is effectively delivered.

The debate about reform of the judiciary and the legal profession is only beginning. Let us hope that the Criminal Justice Review report will propose creative and progressive solutions to the problems we face. Without an overhaul of the legal system we cannot guarantee that the human rights of all will be protected in the future.

At the very least this promise, contained in the agreement, must be delivered.

Dr Colin Harvey is a lecturer in the school of law at Queen's University, Belfast