Hain pledges to infuse NI politics with new direction
Peter Hain has pledged to infuse Northern Irish politics with a new sense of direction and urgency.
The newly-installed Northern Ireland Secretary said he hoped to bring all parties together to undergird long term peace in the province.
Mr Hain succeeds Paul Murphy in the Northern Ireland office. Mr Murphy had been Northern Ireland Secretary since October 2002.
Mr Murphy leaves the post to assume the chairmanship of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee.
Following his promotion, Mr Hain said he was privileged and delighted to have received the “absolutely crucial” cabinet brief.
The Neath MP said there was “no prize more important than peace”.
Mr Hain is to carry out joint duties of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Wales.
But the role has its detractors.
Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru complained the “part-time” role was “unfair in principle and in practice” for people both in Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Democratic Unionist Party concurred with the sentiment, saying the dual role meant the Northern Ireland portfolio was being downgraded.
Mr Hain already has experience of juggling two roles as he has been combining his Welsh Secretary job with Leader of the Commons.
The new leader of the Commons is former Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon.
But Mr Hain said he would “continue to serve all parts of Wales” and continue to foster a “close working relationship” with First Minister Rhodri Morgan.
