The reality of life in Northern Ireland is that if you were Protestant, you learned British history, and if you were Catholic, you learned Irish history in school.

I was one of the many kids in Northern Ireland who grew up in the countryside and had an idyllic childhood well away from the Troubles.

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.

A day like today is not a day for soundbites, really. But I feel the hand of history upon our shoulders. I really do.

The people of Northern Ireland have sorted out my whole life.

Look at Northern Ireland and how long that is taking. Look at Sinai and Lebanon, and you see how difficult that is,