Alliance Leader says 'now make it work'

12.00.00am GMT Tue 8th May 2007

Following the restoration of devolution, Alliance Leader David Ford has hailed the progress made, but said that the DUP and Sinn Fein must convince local people that they can work effectively together for everyone.

David Ford said: "We are here to make devolution work - now, the DUP and Sinn Fein must convince local people that they can work together. Much progress has been made but the real work only begins now.

"We have heard all the hype, we have seen all the photocalls, now its time for Sinn Fein and the DUP to settle down and get on with the serious business of delivering better services for everyone and improving our local economy.

"The Executive must prove that it is capable of providing the constructive government that the people of Northern Ireland want and deserve - we will certainly provide a strong and constructive Opposition.

"We need to create a genuinely shared future if we are to have a chance of making devolution work. A shared future must mean much more than the leaders of unionism and nationalism working in partnership, but at the same time presiding over a deeply divided community."

"Action must be taken to break down the walls of division and segregation, to tackle sectarian and racist attitudes, to provide integrated schools and housing, and to build a united community.

"The Taoiseach today quoted King George V at the opening of Stormont - his words should serve as a lesson to us all that we must create a truly shared future to deliver a stable and prosperous society for everyone."