This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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FM visits Northern Ireland Assembly
22/05/2006
The First Minister Jack McConnell today extended the hand of friendship from Scotland to the people of Northern Ireland as he addressed Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) at Stormont.
Speaking in the Senate chamber, Mr McConnell said that Scotland had made real progress since devolution, but that 'devolution is about more than finding solutions to problems, it's about ambition and vision'.
Following his speech, The First Minister took more than 30 minutes of questions from the main party leaders.
He told them that Scotland wished them well as they tried to get devolution in Northern Ireland working again, and said that they should "keep their eye on the prize".
The First Minister said:
"I am not here to promote the benefits of devolution for any political purpose.
"I don't want you to think that I believe everything or even anything we have done in Scotland is automatically appropriate or desirable in Northern Ireland's context. I'm not here to give any view on the politics of devolution for Northern Ireland.
"But I am here to offer you Scotland's hand of friendship.
"I want to wish you well, and if you will indulge me, to talk to you about Scotland, and the Scottish experience of devolution. To tell you about our ups and downs since 1999 and to explain some of the things we have been doing, and the vision we have for our small country.
"I want to do that because of the bonds between us, our shared history and culture and because we are neighbours.
"It is seven years since legislative and administrative powers were devolved from Westminster to Scotland. Devolution has given Scots greater access to their politicians and allowed them to influence the Parliament and ministers in a way not possible before.
"And while building a new form of government is a challenge, there is real progress seven years on. We are a far better country than we were then.
"I don't measure that progress on the basis of spending extra money, or on schemes or extra services. I measure that on results:
- our health waiting times are down
- our school results are up
- crime is coming down
- the numbers in work are up
- and the numbers in poverty are down
"But perhaps most significantly of all, after years of population decline and constant emigration, our population has gone up and we are becoming a magnet for talented young people.
"But to me, devolution is about more than finding solutions to problems. It's about ambition and vision.
"I want young Scots to lift their heads, be confident and have respect for others.
"To look outwards, beyond the old horizons, take a few more risks and find more success than their parents or their grandparents found.
"I am sure these are ambitions which the people of Northern Ireland have for their youngsters. I sincerely hope that we will both see our ambitions fulfilled."
The Northern Ireland Assembly consists of 108 elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) - six from each of the 18 Westminster constituencies.
Its role is primarily to scrutinise and make decisions on the issues dealt with by Government Departments and to consider and make legislation.