Parties agree to share of ministries without any rancour

The shape of a government in waiting is emerging, writes Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor

When Ian Paisley spoke last week about prospective ministers hitting the "ground running" he was perfectly serious, as yesterday proved with the establishment of a government in waiting.

We may not have all the names of the ministers but they should be forthcoming in the next few days to allow ministers prepare for the formal triggering of devolution on Tuesday May 8th.

Without any rancour the leaders of the four main parties yesterday agreed that the departments should be shared as follows. The DUP, with four ministries, will be in charge of: finance and personnel; enterprise, trade and investment; environment; and culture, arts and leisure.

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson will head finance with senior figures such as Nigel Dodds, Gregory Campbell, Arlene Foster, Sammy Wilson, Jeffrey Donaldson, Edwin Poots and Ian Paisley jnr, main contenders for the other four posts, which includes a junior ministry.

Sinn Féin, with three departments, will have: education; regional development; and agriculture. Unlike the other parties Sinn Féin named its ministers yesterday - Conor Murphy, Michelle Gildernew, Caitríona Ruane and Gerry Kelly - but did not say which of them would take its three main departments or the junior ministry to which it is also entitled.

Gildernew's appointment caused some surprise considering her pre-election remarks that she would not notify the PSNI if she observed armed dissident republicans intent on paramilitary activity. Gerry Adams was asked about this yesterday but he deflected the question, merely saying ministers were nominated on the basis of ability.

As party spokeswoman on agriculture she would appear well-placed to take that department. Murphy's nomination is no surprise as over recent years he has been promoted to the front rank of the party. He could be in the running for regional development while Gildernew could take over education. Kelly may become a junior minister at the Office of First and Deputy First Minister, to work alongside Martin McGuinness.

The Ulster Unionist Party will take health; and employment and learning. UUP leader Sir Reg Empey is expected to take one of these departments with frontrunners for the other post North Down MLA Alan McFarland and deputy leader Danny Kennedy.

The SDLP will run the department for social development, which is expected to go to South Down MLA Margaret Ritchie.

"You have to keep pinching yourself," is a common utterance up at Stormont these days with people still surprised that politics for once appears to be running according to a carefully orchestrated plan.

Northern Ireland Office press officers fielded a number of calls from journalists on Sunday inquiring about reports that Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness had jointly written to Northern Secretary Peter Hain asking him to vacate his Stormont Castle offices, so they could occupy them. Was it an April Fool's Day wind-up, many of them genuinely wanted to know.

It wasn't. Moreover, while there is caution around issues of personal chemistry between the DUP and Sinn Féin there is an element of a slowly developing engagement between the two parties. McGuinness recounted that after signing the letter to Hain he asked Paisley was he now party to a "Brits Out" policy. As for Paisley's reaction? "He smiled," according to McGuinness.

The selection of departments is not legally binding, as that does not formally happen until May 8th. Yet all parties seemed happy that no one would dishonour their commitments.

Eight years ago when McGuinness chose education there were audible gasps in the Assembly chamber as unionists understood that a former IRA leader would be in government and in charge of their children's education. There was initial speculation that Sinn Féin would pick the department of enterprise, trade and investment, because of its North-South relevance, which would have left education to the DUP. So, Sinn Féin's decision to take education handing enterprise to the DUP caused a bit of a jolt to some unionists.

But, in truth, yesterday was a doddle. The DUP and Sinn Féin so far appear absolutely determined to make this work. There were no hardline statements.Everyone was on message.

In the meantime the work goes on to ensure May 8th and more importantly the period thereafter happens smoothly. Tomorrow Ian Paisley travels to Dublin for an informal meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Farmleigh.