David Cameron makes Stormont address
Photography by Brian Thompson / Presseye.com 9th June 2011. Primer Minister Rt Hon David Cameron MP visit Northern Ireland. The Conservative leader visited Stormont Castle where he met The First Minister and Deputy First Minster and then Parliament Buildings where he addressed the Assembly. Left to right. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Peter Robinson pictured at the front of Stormont Castle as the Prime Minister arrives.
PRIME minister David Cameron has addressed MLAs at parliament buildings as part of a one-day visit to Northern Ireland.
Speaking to a packed Stormont assembly chamber, the premier praised local politicians for building the peace process.
He also acknowledged the work of successive British, Irish and American governments in ending violence.
However, he urged the parties to look now towards a productive future.
“Politics here is now more stable than for over a generation,” he said.
“But as the institutions mature, people will look for more than survival.”
Mr Cameron said major work was needed to secure economic growth, but also to remove barriers to creating a shared future in a society that remained deeply divided.
“It is disappointing in too many places Protestant and Catholic communities remain largely segregated,” he said.
Mr Cameron said sectarian divisions and the duplication of public services to meet the needs of the divided community cost an estimated £1.5 billion a year.
Earlier, the premier was welcomed to Stormont Castle by first minister Peter Robinson and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness.
Mr Cameron had lunch with the first and deputy first ministers, who have complained bitterly over recent months about the end of Labour’s ‘open door policy’ for Northern Ireland leaders to visit Downing Street.
Speaking to the media after the lunchtime talks, the prime minister denied that his failure to visit Northern Ireland in the last year amounted to a snub.
Pointing to developments over the stricken Presbyterian Mutal Society and final publication of the Bloody Sunday report, Mr Cameron said: “Judge me on those promises, not just on how often I come here.”
The prime minister also held talks with the leaders of Northern Ireland’s main political parties at Stormont.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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Wind direction: South west
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