Devolution here to stay - Hain - News in brief

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As he prepared to sign the restoration order allowing the Rev Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness to head up a new devolved administration at Stormont on Tuesday, the Northern Ireland Secretary was confident once they assumed power there would be no return to direct rule from Westminster.

"I really believe that after devolution day it would be as unthinkable for direct rule to be re-imposed on Northern Ireland as it would be for Scotland and Wales," he told PA.

"I believe the transformation is now so firm and the preparations for government by the DUP and Sinn Fein are so deep and practical that Northern Ireland is set for permanent devolved government.

"I'm not saying there will not be the odd bump and hiccup after Tuesday. That is to be expected. It is the meat and drink of any government in any part of the world.

"However I'm convinced that the foundations have been laid and the concrete is set. I'm confident about the prospect of permanent devolution."

Mr Hain is due to sign the restoration order on Monday for a new era of power sharing between unionists and nationalists at Stormont.

During his tenure the Northern Ireland secretary has witnessed the IRA announce an end of its armed campaign, complete its disarmament programme, Sinn Fein signing up to supporting the police, a deal between Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams on power sharing and the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force in recent days announce it was also abandoning paramilitarism and criminality.

"This is everything that the Labour Government and the Prime Minister have been working to achieve in Northern Ireland for 10 years," he said.

"It is everything I have worked for in the two years I have been involved in the process. During that time I was always optimistic we could get to this point but I have to say what has happened has actually exceeded my expectations."