Today at long last we are starting upon the road - I emphasise
starting - which I believe will take us to lasting peace in
our Province
Today we salute Ulster's honored and unaging dead - the innocent
victims, that gallant band, members of both religions, Protestant
and Roman Catholic, strong in their allegiance to their differing
political beliefs, Unionist and Nationalist, male and female,
children and adults, all innocent victims of the terrible conflict
I have sensed a great sigh of relief amongst all our people
who want the hostility to be replaced with neighborliness
I believe that Northern Ireland has come to a time of peace,
a time when hate will no longer rule. How good it will be to
be part of a wonderful healing in our Province.
Ian Paisley
Speech as First Minister at Stormont on
return of devolution to Northern Ireland, May 8 2007. |
People have come out of a dark tunnel and they can see there
is a path out there for us. I think it has put a lot of faith
and hope into people.
Ian Paisley
On eve of being sworn in as First Minister
at the start of a new era of power sharing between DUP and Sinn
Fein, May 7 2007. |
I better shake hands with this man and give you a firm grip.
Ian Paisley
Shaking Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's
hand for first time in public, April 2007. |
Today, we can confidently state that we are making progress
to ensure that our two countries can develop and grow side by
side in a spirit of generous cooperation. Old barriers and threats
have been, and are being, removed daily.
Ian Paisley
After historic handshake with Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern, April 2007. |
We must not allow our loathing of the tragedies of the past
to become a barrier to a better future.
Ian Paisley
Agreeing to historic power-sharing deal
in Northern Ireland, March 2007. |
I don't like the President of the Irish Republic
because
she is dishonest.
Ian Paisley
About President Mary McAleese, February
2006. |
We are not going into government with Sinn Fein.
Ian Paisley
September 27 2005, after the confirmation
of IRA's decommissioning of its arms. |
We do not know how many guns, the amount of ammunition and
explosives were decommissioned, nor were we told how the decommissioning
was carried out. There were no photographs, no detailed inventory,
and no detail on the destruction of these arms. To describe
today's statement as transparent would be the falsehood of the
century.
Ian Paisley
On IRA decommissioning of weapons, September
2005. |
Talk about dancing at Christmas on the graves of Ulster dead,
and to be given the facility so to dance by the British prime
minister . . . Here we saw the godfathers of those who planned
the bombing of Downing Street, standing outside there and piously
pretending they were engaged in a search for peace.
Ian Paisley
December 11 1997, reacting to the Downing
Street meeting of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and British Prime
Minister Tony Blair. |
I will never sit down with Gerry Adams . . . he'd sit with
anyone. He'd sit down with the devil. In fact, Adams does sit
down with the devil.
Ian Paisley
Independent, February 13 1997. |