Northern Ireland unionists now have confidence in their political leadership and in the journey that they are on, Ian Paisley jnr declared last night at the Patrick MacGill Summer School.
"Quite understandably down the years, unionists have eyed cross-Border co-operation with suspicion. But unionists have confidence now," Mr Paisley said in his first appearance at the summer school.
"Unionists know Northern Ireland has much to gain through good relations with the Irish Republic, if it is grounded on a pragmatic and appropriate basis.
"We must capitalise upon that once-in-a-generation opportunity," said the Northern Ireland Executive junior minister, who travelled by helicopter to the event, landing on the GAA pitch.
The road to agreement was "long and at times difficult", but the DUP's "patient approach" has "laid the foundations for a prosperous and peaceful future", he said. "I believe the Democratic Unionist Party is a party of its word. We have honoured our word," he said, but he cautioned against the speedy transfer of justice and policing powers from London to Stormont.
"I believe my party was correct for insisting on inbuilt guarantees that this could not happen until there exists sufficient confidence amongst the people to take on these controversial powers.
"We have made progress but let's not get carried away believing that these powers must come to us immediately. There is some distance to go," he told the Glenties summer school.
"Political progress at a rate that few would have imagined just a short time ago is now possible, the North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness told the summer school last night.
The foundation of the Assembly and the Executive "are milestones marking the road to a better future rather than millstones of division", he said.
Investment by the Republic in roads in Tyrone and Derry are signs of "the real action" that will bring benefits to "communities marginalised by geographical and political division".
Referring to the recent visit to the US by NI Executive Ministers, he said: "I cannot begin to tell you the impact that that united front made, not just with the many high-powered political representatives we met but also with business leaders."
Pledging to "heal the wounds of divisions" left by the Troubles, Mr McGuinness said: "We have to be particularly mindful of those who have suffered. There will, of course, be those on all sides who will be critical of what we are about. But I would say to them to sit back and honestly reflect upon the journey we have collectively made."
The North's Police Ombud-sman Nuala O'Loan said: "The distinction between what is, and what went before, is very stark."
