Murphy 'committed to Agreement'

Paul Murphy: Appointed on Thursday in surprise move

Northern Ireland's new secretary of state has said the government's priority of implementing the Agreement will not alter following his appointment.

Former Welsh Secretary of State Paul Murphy took up the Northern Ireland brief on Thursday morning after a cabinet reshuffle.

He was political development minister during Mo Mowlam's time as secretary of state from 1997 to 1999, and was involved in putting the Good Friday Agreement together.

Mr Murphy said it was good to be back and said he had good memories about the people of Northern Ireland and the "determination of everybody in Northern Ireland to see the Agreement work".

John Reid was surprised by the reshuffle move

"It is very important that we secure the achievements of the Agreement for the long-term," he added.

He said he intended to immediately make a start in meeting with and listening to everyone involved in the peace process.

"My job now is to listen to the people of Northern Ireland, to their representatives, the Irish Government and to everyone who has the realisation in their hearts that we do need to press ahead with those principles which underly the Agreement," he said.

He later arrived in Northern Ireland to take up his brief.

Mr Murphy has taken over from Dr John Reid who is leaving the province to take up the post of chairman of the Labour Party.

The appointment of Charles Clarke as the new education secretary left a vacancy and Dr Reid, who was secretary of state for just under two years, was named as his successor.

The Democratic Unionist Party welcomed Dr Reid's departure from the post as the end of the Agreement.

DUP assembly member Ian Paisley junior said it was "another indication that we have reached the end of the Belfast Agreement".

But Mr Murphy said: "I believe there is a lot of optimism among the people of Northern Ireland and that is the challenge of it...to see that the Belfast Agreement is implemented".

Mr Murphy was generally viewed as a safe pair of hands by most of the political parties during his time in the Northern Ireland Office.

Reid 'disappointed'

Meanwhile, Dr Reid said he was disappointed to be leaving Northern Ireland.

"I would like to say thank you to all the politicians in Northern Ireland," he said.

"They have given me a few sore heads but I am sure they would say the same about me."

Paul Murphy comes back to Northern Ireland with a reputation for being a good listener and we hope he can settle down to his work efficiently

David Trimble
UUP leader

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Dr Reid's record was one of "dismal failure".

"He failed to grasp the imperative of the current situation and he suspended the institutions three times," he said.

Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble said he hoped Mr Murphy would make a "positive contribution" to the process.

"Paul Murphy comes back to Northern Ireland with a reputation for being a good listener and we hope he can settle down to his work efficiently."

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said Dr Reid had made his own contribution to the Good Friday Agreement.

He added: "I do not want to begrudge the contribution he did make but I also am not in denial about some of the differences we had with him including the way the return of direct rule has been handled."

Cowen disappointed

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen said Dr Reid would be genuinely missed.

He added: "Our regret at John's departure is mitigated by the fact that his successor, Paul Murphy, is no stranger to Northern Ireland. I look forward to working very closely with him in the period ahead."

Dr Reid's time at the Northern Ireland Office has been marked by the acts of decommissioning by the IRA.

He was criticised by nationalists for his suggestion Northern Ireland might become a cold house for unionists.

He will also be remembered for declaring the loyalist Ulster Defence Association and Loyalist Volunteer Force ceasefires at an end.

His last significant act in office was the suspension of the institutions earlier this month, the third time he took that step.