By Brendan Anderson

The long-awaited “clash” between the leaders of the North’s two largest political parties took place Monday in the Stormont Assembly.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said nothing dramatic during the debate, but the fact that Paisley had deigned to address Adams directly made local headline news.

In fact, so focused was the DUP chief on his put-down attempts that he had to be reminded by the speaker to make his remarks through the chair.

The debate, on whether Northern Secretary Peter Hain had interfered in Assembly business, was only made possible by Sinn Fein’s decision to drop their boycott of the body.

The party had opted out of what it termed the “Hain Assembly” because it was convened at the Northern secretary’s behest, was powerless to pass legislation and remained largely under Hain’s influence. The “transitional” Assembly, as it is officially known, will run until the end of January. An election is scheduled for March when it is hoped a “real” Assembly will emerge.

John O’Dowd, Sinn Fein Assembly leader, said the party would now be playing a full part in the business of the chamber.

“We have … decided to play a full and active role in plenary sessions of the transitional Assembly. We view this as a valuable opportunity to advance the work of preparing a radical and effective program for the incoming Executive,” he said.

The media expected fireworks or even a walkout by the more petulant members at Monday’s session when Paisley and Adams were due to face each other across the chamber. The exchanges, however, were quite civilized, apart from the occasional barbed comment and reference to “Sinn Fein/IRA.”

The motion for debate concerned how proceedings on November 24 (interrupted when a Loyalist, Michael Stone, armed with home-made bombs stormed the Assembly building) were handled by Hain.

Introducing an amendment to the motion, Adams’ comments on Hain included references to the contribution made by Irish Presbyterians to the cause of the United Irishmen.

Paisley, who left the Presbyterian Church 35 years ago to found his own Free Presbyterian version, could not resist the bait. Directing his comments directly at Adams, he launched into a rebuttal of the Sinn Fein’s leaders history lesson, advised Adams to read the Bible and threw in a couple of references to “Sinn Fein/IRA.”

Adams was instantly back on his feet to tell the speaker, “There is no party here called IRA/Sinn Fein, the party is Sinn Fein.”

The motion of censure on Hain, proposed by Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey, was passed.

The most remarkable thing about the debate was that it had taken place at all and that is being seen as a positive sign. It was not the content that headlined radio and television news bulletins, but the fact that the leaders had made eye contact and directly responded to each other. It said much for the state of Northern politics.