When Labour came to power in 1997, the outgoing Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew, was at pains to do all he could to help the incoming minister, Dr Mo Mowlam. Discussions continued month after month between party representatives. Both Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern involved themselves in the details to a remarkable degree. Finally, on Good Friday 1998, all the main parties - with the exception of the Democratic Unionist Party - announced agreement.

Essentially the SDLP MP who described the accord as 'Sunningdale for slow learners' was not wrong. A power-sharing devolved government would be formed with ministerial posts distributed according to party strength. The involvement of parties representing paramilitaries (primarily the Ulster Democratic Party, the Progressive Unionist Party and Sinn Fein) depended on the maintenance of cease-fires and 'decommissioning' of paramilitary weapons. A copy of the agreement was delivered to every household in Northern Ireland, and in May

David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist leader, has warned Mr Blair that he will quit the executive by Tuesday unless the Government expels Sinn Fein's two ministers. Instead, Mr Blair is expected to suspend the power-sharing institutions, probably on Monday.

Dr Reid said the new direct rule ministers would be allocated their portfolios later this week. His message to loyalist and republican paramilitaries was that they had "no authority, no legitimacy, no morality, no political basis", for taking up arms.

Policing, criminal justice, decommissioning, prisoner releases and security were politically contentious aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. Independent commissions were established to deal with police reform and criminal justice and an international commission was set up to oversee the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons. The British government committed itself to normalising security but linked the process of demilitarisation to the level of threat from dissident loyalist and republican groups. The early release of paramilitary prisoners was particularly distressing for victims and their families.

An announcement by John Reid, the Northern Ireland Secretary, is expected to be followed by an emergency statement to the Commons on Tuesday. To help to run the Province, the Government is expected to appoint two junior ministers to assist Dr Reid.

Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein President, accused the Secretary of State of dishonesty during his announcement of suspension. "He attempts to project himself and his government as referees in this situation.

"The Agreement remains a template for political process here in Northern Ireland. I hope the decision I have taken today marks a breathing space - a chance to gather strength - before that process moves forward once again."

Surrounded by his entire Assembly team, Mr Adams said he had no confidence in Dr Reid's assertion that he would implement all aspects of the Agreement.

With a monumental chasm of distrust now separating Unionists and republicans, his task will be to ensure that the suspension of the Stormont Assembly and executive is not followed by a total collapse of the peace process.

The power-sharing executive and Stormont Assembly are to be suspended from midnight on the 14th October after the Government refused Ulster Unionist demands to expel Sinn Fein's two ministers in the aftermath of the IRA spying allegations.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Northern Ireland, Dr Reid, Street Blair, Sinn Fein, Stormont Assembly, Prime Minister, Agreement Independent, Northern Ireland's, Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair, northern ireland, peace process, dr reid, direct rule, sinn fein, stormont assembly, united kingdom, david trimble, prime minister, main parties, sinn fein president, adams sinn fein, northern ireland secretary, people northern ireland, british irish governments,
Approximate Word count = 2204
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)