UK/NORTHERN IRELAND: NORTHERN IRELAND VOTES FOR SEATS IN A NEW PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY

Record ID: 328607

  • Title: UK/NORTHERN IRELAND: NORTHERN IRELAND VOTES FOR SEATS IN A NEW PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY
  • Date: 24th June 1998
  • Summary: BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 24, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV VOTE COUNTING DURING LAST MONTH'S REFERENDUM (2 SHOTS) 0.20 BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND (JUNE 24, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 2. SV SINN FEIN PRESIDENT GERRY ADAMS UNVEILS PARTY ELECTION BILLBOARD 0.32 3. ADAMS TALKING ABOUT THE LAST ELECTIONS TWO YEARS AGO SAYING, "WE GOT 116,000 VOTES AND WE GOT I THINK15.5% OF THE VOTE. WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE ON THAT. WE GOT FIFTEEN SEATS AND WE CERTAINLY SHOULD GET SEVENTEEN. HOPEFULLY AS PREFERENCES WORK OUT WE MAY GET MORE THAN THAT." (ENGLISH) 0.49 4. CU ELECTION BOARD 0.55 LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND (JUNE 11, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 5. SV GERRY ADAMS AND SINN FEIN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR MARTIN MCGUINNESS CAMPAIGNING/POSE WITH CHILDREN 1.04 BANGOR, NORTHERN IRELAND (JUNE 12, 1998) (RTV -ACCESS ALL) 6. SV GERRY ADAMS AND MARTIN MCGUINNESS CANVASSING 1.11 7. SV ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY LEADER DAVID TRIMBLE CANVASSING (4 SHOTS) 1.45 8. SV TRIMBLE SAYING, "YES THERE WERE SOME DIVISIONS DURING THE REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN - BUT THERE ARE NO DIVISIONS IN THIS ELECTION" (ENGLISH) 2.14 CULLYBACKEY, NORTHERN IRELAND (JUNE 11, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 9. SV DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY LEADER IAN PAISLEY CAMPAIGNING AT CATTLE MARKET (4 SHOTS) 2.40 LIMAVADY, NORTHERN IRELAND (JUNE 14, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 10. SV SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC AND LABOUR PARTY LEADER JOHN HUME CANVASSING (3 SHOTS) 3.06 BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND (RECENT) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 11. SV INDEPENDENT PARADES COMMISSION MEETING (4 SHOTS) 3.33 BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND (JUNE 24, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 12. SLV GENERAL STREET SCENES (3 SHOTS) 3.50 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 9th July 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NORTHERN IRELAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA776OZIZC1ACNEB72XVMA6T0T7
  • Story Text: Northern Ireland on Wednesday was on the final countdown to an election crucial to the search for a lasting peace in the British province.

    Entrenched by guerrilla war politics over 30 years, long- time foes are bidding for seats on Thursday in a new provincial assembly that is intended to launch an era of stability.

    An accord which spawned the Northern Ireland Assembly has planted hope in a barren political landscape by winning majority support from traditionally riven Roman Catholics and Protestants in a referendum last month.

    The 40 percent Catholic minority, who want union with the neighbouring Irish Republic, are united behind the accord.But it has opened fissures among the majority Protestant community which supports continued rule from London.

    The plan proposes a range of new political institutions aimed at easing community tension after years of bloodshed.

    It has failed to win over some vocal Protestant sceptics who fear it jeopardises London rule and nudges the province towards an all-Ireland state.

    The assembly is the first stage of the implementation of the accord and the scene is set for a trial of strength among Protestants that may dictate whether key elements of the peace pact flounder or flourish.

    Parties across the sectarian gulf which back the peace deal are likely to win a comfortable majority of the 108 seats.

    But the outspoken Democratic Unionist Party and a raft of other anti-accord Protestant candidates are chasing a magic total of 30 seats.

    Under the assembly's voting procedures, aimed at getting substantial "cross-community" support on contentious issues, 30 is the level which analysts say could enable anti-accord groups to stymie key decisions such as proposed cooperation with the Irish Republic.

    The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) led by David Trimble, which is tipped to retain its position as the province's biggest party, has led the crusade for Protestant backing of the accord.

    The election looks certain to break new ground after a conflict in which 3,600 people have died on all sides.

    For the first time, parties share a common purpose -- support for the accord -- albeit often for divergent political reasons.

    But old divisions remain over national allegiance.

    Sinn Fein -- the political arm of the outlawed Irish Republican Army (IRA) guerrilla movement, the sworn enemy of British rule over the province -- will sit in a provincial assembly with their pro-British "unionist" adversaries.

    Sinn Fein points to the assembly's link to proposed all-Ireland ministerial institutions and hails the peace deal as a potential stepping stone to its goal of a united Ireland.

    Tensions have eased between the UUP and the biggest Catholic party, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, but the UUP says it will not do business with Sinn Fein until the IRA scraps arms it used in a fight against British rule.

    Sinn Fein is expected to win enough votes to give it a place alongside other parties in a 12-member ruling executive elected from the assembly in proportion to party strengths.

    The assembly will gradually assume control over a range of key policy areas that are now controlled by British ministers, who will continue to be responsible for security and budgetary affairs.

    On Monday the Independent Parades Commission is due to deliver its ruling on the inflamed annual Orangemen's march in Portadown.If the commission bans or re-routes the march observers say a protestant backlash is certain.If the march is allowed to go ahead there will surely be a nationalist protest - a situation bound to test the new Northern Ireland Asembly which has its first sitting next Tuesday.
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