A whole new vista was opening up in the administration of law in Northern Ireland, the SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, said yesterday.
Welcoming the proposed re forms of the North's criminal justice system, Mr Mallon said they were a "sound piece of well-judged work", but he expressed disappointment over the likely delay in implementing them.
He was speaking during his first visit to Waterford, where he received an international peace award last night from students at St Angela's secondary school.
The most "crucially important" elements of the criminal justice review concerned the change in the way prosecutions would be brought and the establishment of an independent commission to appoint judges, he said.
"Had we had that type of proposal over this past 30 years I suggest we wouldn't have had some of the problems that we had, in terms of the supergrass system and in terms of the way the court system was seen as being less than objective," he said.
"But if you take the review alongside the recommendations of Chris Patten in terms of policing, I think you will see a whole new vista opening up in respect of the implementation of law".
However Mr Mallon said there was some disappointment over the delay in implementing the proposed changes. The review had come five months late and now the Secretary of State, Mr Mandelson, wanted a "lengthy consultation period".
"Of course consultation is important, but it should not be lengthy. And some of the review's changes, such as on the appointment of judges, may not be implemented for a number of years. Why not take the bold step of implementing them now?"
Mr Mallon is the latest in a line of distinguished recipients of the award given annually by the peace and justice group at St Angela's school. The award was established by a group of students nine years ago.
Previous winners include Mr Dick Spring; Ms Adi Roche; Mr Tom Hyland; the journalist, Mr John Pilger, who visited Waterford to receive the award last year; and the Burmese opposition leader, Ms Aung Sang Suu Kyi, whose late husband, Mr Michael Aris, received the award on her behalf.
Members of the group established a link last year with the Omagh Cross-Community Choir, which performed at last night's presentation ceremony alongside the St Angela's folk choir. The composer, Phil Coulter, was also honoured last night for his promotion of peace through music.
Since last September about 130 students at the school have worked on projects concerning human rights and environmental issues in Thailand, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Australia and Northern Ireland.
The projects are on display at the school as part of the group's annual peace and justice week. The students have been promised a meeting with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, at which they will present a number of "proposals for action".
