The last thing the people of Northern Ireland need now is an outbreak of recriminations,

The decision ... was in the interests of public safety for the whole of Northern Ireland and I support him. Many people will be angry with what has occurred and I ask for restraint.

I welcome this important breakthrough and congratulate the Northern Ireland leaders and the Irish Republic on reaching a genuine accommodation of mutual benefit to north and south.

This isn't just an award to David Trimble and myself. It's an award to all the people of Northern Ireland and to all the parties that have participated in the peace process and to both governments.

It is also perhaps fitting that here in Northern Ireland a good part of our discussions focused on the Middle East,

Yet here we are for all the difficulties in Northern Ireland able to point back to real improvements in the security and the standards of living,