Gerry Adams speech as Ian Paisley goes as First Minister

[factual]

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP has spoken in the Assembly about Ian Paisley Snr after he stepped down as First Minster today. The speech reflects on Ian Paisley's contribution to political life of the people of this island, through the good humour and grace with which he has gone about his role.

Gerry also commented on that Sinn Féin and the DUP proved that progress could be planned and achieved, contrary to what naysayers said.

"Ian Paisley has been a part of the political landscape in the north for as long as I can remember.

He may be pleased to know that it was his desire to visit the Falls Road - Divis Street - in 1964 that first whetted my interest in Irish politics.

His journey from those days to where he now sits have been well chronicled.

And my views on his role for most of his career are also well known.

So, I will not dwell on that today.

Except perhaps to note - and he will forgive me for this - that he is the living proof of why a politician should never say never, or 'never, never, never'.

Today I want to commend Ian Paisley. Today is a day to praise Caesar not to bury him.

So, I want to thank Ian Paisley for the way he fulfilled his role as First Minister, alongside Martin McGuinness.

He certainly had a lot to put up with.

I also want to commend Martin McGuinness who also had a lot to put up with.

Both these leaders together proved that politics can work and that far from being the 'problem parties', derided by begrudgers and naysayers, Sinn Féin and the DUP proved that progress could be planned and achieved, and that difficulties can be overcome.

And a chairde there is a public expectation that this will continue to be the case in the time ahead.

And that is a huge challenge for all the parties represented here, and especially for your successor and the rest of us.

Ian Paisley and I did not to meet until recent times and he did not talk to me directly until March 26th last year when we agreed the arrangements which led to the re-establishment of the political institutions.

Throughout all of our engagements I have always found him cordial and respectful.

And I am convinced that the good humour and grace and enthusiasm he displayed in public, was good for public confidence, and for all the people of this island.

So, I wish Dr. Paisley well.

I also want to extend my best wishes to his wife Eileen and to all of their family.

May I commend her on the best speech of the last year.

That is of course, the remarks she made at the Boyne site last month.

There is an seanfhocail or proverb in the Irish language - Is fear feasach, go cinnte, é an duine a h'athraíonn treo ar leas an phobail agus is fear adhúil é an duine, a mhaireann fada go leor le tairbhe a bhaint as.

It's a wise man who can change direction for the common good and it's a lucky man who lives long enough to enjoy it.

So good luck.

Go n-éirigh an bothair leat agus leis do chlann." E

[eileen ni tarbh]

Well, that was nice....by Gerry.

And that was nice...about Ian.

The times they are a changing.

And no-one is being killed.

So...yeah, good on those saying, and being the recipient of, those words.

[merle haggard]

naysayers and begrudgers..If I had apound for everytime Gerry Adams introduces those words in a speech id have £3058 , or there abouts .

seriously google naysayers and begrudgers

[raff]

It was good to see Gerry and Ian joking about Ian’s threats about the tricolour in Divis Street. I think not enough praise can be heaped upon this gentle and warm man who made so many people happy and brought so much peace to our land. And I think it only right and proper that the great bastion of truth and honest that is Gerry deliver at least some of the praise that this saintly man so richly deserves.

Now can any of the DUP/PSF alliance spell hypocrite?

[tiocfaidh]

naysayers and begrudgers..If I had apound for everytime Gerry Adams introduces those words in a speech id have £3058 , or there abouts .

seriously google naysayers and begrudgers

Ha, ha, you're at the top of the list, Merle (on Google)!

[Jim236]

I'm sure the last remark(as Gaeilge) meant Big Ian took it as offensive.

[Bogwarrior]

WTF does he mean by "We're hear to praise Caesar".
This is Paisley he's talking about. No? He of Ulster Resistance, of the sledgehammers with "Smash Sinn Fein" photos during a spate of loyalist assasinations, the guy who called for the RAF to strafe Buncrana and Dundalk because on the run Republicans lived there.
Yeah Caesar. You can get up off your knees now Gerry.

[Silvio Dante]

WTF does he mean by "We're hear to praise Caesar".
This is Paisley he's talking about. No? He of Ulster Resistance, of the sledgehammers with "Smash Sinn Fein" photos during a spate of loyalist assasinations, the guy who called for the RAF to strafe Buncrana and Dundalk because on the run Republicans lived there.
Yeah Caesar. You can get up off your knees now Gerry.

Above is what is referred to as the dying sting of the wasp... Good riddance too...

[ArtyQueing]

This must be a five bucketer