The Rev Ian Paisley will visit the Battle of the Boyne site along with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in one of his first engagements as first minister of the Northern Ireland executive.
The two men agreed on the joint visit during 90 minutes of cordial talks in Farmleigh House yesterday, which marked the first public handshake between them.
The warmth displayed during the talks left the Government delighted. "This is a time of unprecedented hope for Northern Ireland," Mr Ahern said later.
During wide-ranging discussions, Dr Paisley backed speedy meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council to boost mutually beneficial cross-Border co-operation.
Besides Mr Ahern and Dr Paisley, the Farmleigh meeting was attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern; Ian Paisley jnr; second secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach Michael Collins, and senior DUP official Tim Johnson.
The DUP leader sought and received a commitment from Mr Ahern that he would back the new executive's demand for a cut in Northern Ireland's corporation tax rate. In addition, he placed a strong emphasis for the need to improve extradition rules between the Republic and Northern Ireland, following a major controversy last year after it emerged that a convicted paedophile had left Northern Ireland to live in Dublin.
The Government has committed to invest €38 million in reopening the first stretch of the Ulster Canal, which will connect Lough Neagh and Lough Erne.
Meanwhile, Dr Paisley sought further information about the Government's plans to spend nearly €600 million on cross-Border infrastructure, including a contribution to the upgrading of the Belfast to Larne motorway.
Later, the Minister for Foreign Affairs said the Taoiseach had made it clear more monies would be provided under the National Development Plan.
Dr Paisley leader was, he said, "very supportive" of plans to build a bridge at Narrow Water, which would improve links between Louth and Down.
"That is very good from my constituents' point of view," Mr Ahern said.
The significance of a joint visit to the Boyne site should not be underestimated, Government sources told The Irish Times last night. "This will be extraordinary," said one.
Last year, during the St Andrews talks, the Taoiseach presented Dr Paisley with a bowl carved from a walnut tree to mark his 50th wedding anniversary.
In a statement after yesterday's meeting, Dr Paisley said: "The Government has committed to spending €15 million on an interpretative centre and museum at the battlefield site in Co Meath, and the Orange Order is involved in its planning."
The speed of events over the last fortnight has taken even those directly involved in the negotiations by surprise, particularly by the pact adopted by the DUP since. "They have taken the decision to drive matters forward. They have had defections, but they knew they would have defections, but they have been controlled," said one Government source.
In a further sign of cross-Border co-operation, Dr Paisley will join Minister for Transport Martin Cullen on a visit to a bus factory in Ballymena, which has won a contract to supply buses to Bus Éireann.
First Minister designate: what Ian Paisley said
"I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his invitation to meet with him today. Some say hedges make the best neighbours, but that is not the case. I don't believe that we should plant a hedge between our two countries. Of course, as the leader of the unionist people in Northern Ireland, my aim is to maintain the constitutional position of Northern Ireland firmly within the union of the United Kingdom. The mutual respect that the Prime Minister has just spoken about is, I believe, a key to cementing good and civilized relationships on this island that we share. I am proud to be an Ulsterman, but I am also proud of my Irish roots. My father's birth certificate was lodged here in the courts after he was born. Like many of his generation he fought to see, as a member of Carson's army, Ireland remain within the Union.
But that, of course, was not as history planned it, but that does not destroy my Irish roots although I would put the Ulsterman before the Irishman in my constitution. As the leader of the unionist people, and with Northern Ireland's place in the Union secured, I believe it is important to engage with our closest neighbour from a position of mutual respect and with assured confidence. And I think we can do that today. We can confidently state that we are making progress to ensure that our two countries can develop and grow side-by-side in a spirit of generous co-operation. I trust that all barriers and threats will be removed day by day. Business opportunities are flourishing and genuine respect for the understanding of each other's differences, and, for that matter, similarities is now developing. Mr Ahern has come to understand me as an Ulsterman of plain speech.
He did not ever need a dictionary to find out what I was saying. Today, we engaged in clear and plain speech about our hopes and our aspirations for the people that we both serve. The Prime Minister kindly congratulated me on my election victory. He, too, has an election soon, but I did not feel that it was my place to advise him on maximising the number of seats from proportional representation. Fianna Fáil have their own experts on those matters. Joking aside, we both appreciate the immense expectation of the community for progress, where everyone can see for themselves the obvious benefits from devolution and co-operation for practical purposes between our two jurisdictions.
I have taken the opportunity to raise with the Prime Minister a number of key matters, including ensuring that fugitives from justice who seek to use the Border to their advantage are quickly apprehended and returned without protracted legal wrangles. I raised other legal issues of interest to unionists and we discussed co-operation of an economic nature that will be to our mutual benefit, especially corporation taxes. We both look forward to visit the battle site at the Boyne - but not to refight it, because that would be unfair because he would have the home advantage and no Ulsterman ever gives his opponent an advantage.
Such a visit will help to demonstrate how far we have come when we can celebrate and learn from the past so that the next generation more clearly understands the future. We look forward to future meetings and trust that old suspicions and discords may be buried under the prospect of mutual and respectful co-operation. Thank you Mr Prime Minister for your hospitality today and your welcome to this great city of Dublin."
Taoiseach: what Bertie Ahern said
"I am delighted to welcome Dr Paisley back to Dublin today.This is a time of unprecedented hope for Northern Ireland. We had a very businesslike and friendly discussion on a range of matters of mutual interest.
I congratulated Dr Paisley on the mandate he secured to lead the unionist people at the recent election. I commend the leadership he has shown in helping to bring about a new and better future for all of the people of Northern Ireland.
I welcome the initial work of the parties who will form the executive on May 8th. The progress made has been very encouraging.
At this important time in our history, we must do our best to put behind us the terrible wounds of our past and work together to build a new relationship between our two traditions.That new relationship can only be built on a basis of open dialogue and mutual respect. I fervently believe that we move on from here in a new spirit of friendship.
The future for this island has never been brighter. I believe that this is a future of peace, reconciliation and rising prosperity for all.
We stand ready to work with the new executive. We promise sincere friendship and assured co-operation.
I believe that we can and will work together in the interests of everyone on this island. We look forward to our co-operation in the North/South and East/West institutions and in all those areas where we can work together for mutual benefit.
We had some useful initial discussions today on how we can advance important projects such as infrastructure investment. I was happy to underline the Irish Government's commitment as expressed in the contribution that we are making as part of the chancellor's financial package.
Dr Paisley has also accepted my invitation to visit the Battle of the Boyne site in the near future to review the work being done there.
I believe that this site can become a valuable and welcome expression of our shared history and a new point of departure for an island, North and South, which is at ease with itself and respectful of its past and all its traditions.
Dr Paisley spoke at St Andrews last October of making a better future for our children and our grandchildren.
Last week in Stormont, he spoke of the hard work and commitment required to lay the foundation for a better, peaceful and prosperous future. I echo those noble sentiments today as I wish Dr Paisley well in the post of First Minister."
