Conference welcomes:

A) The successful Agreement arising from the Multi-Party Talks in Northern Ireland.

B) The significant ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum.

C) The establishment of new institutions in Northern Ireland, following the June election.

Conference acknowledges:

i) The leading contribution made by our sister party, the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, in attaining these achievements.

ii) That the terms of the Agreement reflect many of the proposals set out in Federal Policy Paper 4, A New Deal for Northern Ireland, including entrenchment of the principle of consent, the establishment of a power-sharing regional government, accountable North-South structures, and further protections for human rights and minorities.

iii) That the Agreement represents a genuine compromise and accommodation across the varied traditions of the Northern Ireland community.

Conference believes that:

a) The agreement does not by itself guarantee peace, justice, stability and prosperity, nor the end of sectarianism within Northern Ireland; but

b) The agreement provides an opportunity for building a liberal society.

c) In order for the Agreement to work in the long term, measures must be undertaken to bring the many traditions within the Northern Ireland community closer together.

Conference calls for:

1. All the political parties elected to the new Assembly to co-operate in making the new structures function effectively and fairly.

2. Paramilitaries to increase confidence in peace through an end to beatings and shootings, the actual decommissioning of weapons, and the disbandment of their organisations.

3. Future legislation and government policies to be appraised in order to determine if they are likely to increase or decrease sectarian divisions within Northern Ireland.

4. Greater resources to be concentrated on integrated education in line with popular demand.

5. Tax-varying powers to be included as reserved matters to allow for their future transfer to the Northern Ireland assembly.

6. Politicians to take advantage of renewed political stability to promote economic growth and inward investment.

Background Briefing: This motion welcomes the Agreement arising from the Multi-Party talks in Northern Ireland which reflect many of the policy proposals set out in Policy Paper 4, A New Deal for Northern Ireland. It congratulates the efforts of our sister party, the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland and calls for, among other things, all the political parties elected to the new Assembly to co-operate in making the structures function effectively and fairly.