In June 1973 the Unionists won a majority of seats in the new Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973, but the party was divided on policy.

The Sovereignty Committee vehemently opposes the new Northern Ireland peace agreement because it leaves the six northern counties, which constitute a British province, under British sovereignty.

The Unionist proposals are likely to concentrate on the creation of a new Northern Ireland assembly to replace direct rule of the province from London, in effect since 1974.

The new, stable Northern Ireland is open for business.

The new Northern Ireland peace agreement approved in the spring tries to solve that problem.

Sir Patrick Mayhew, the new Northern Ireland Secretary, said gossip like that belonged more "in the fantasy of spy thrillers than in real life."

Mr. Mitchell, who was later appointed by the Irish and British Governments as chairman of the new, broad-based Northern Ireland peace talks, laughed.

The I.R.A. will appoint a representative to a disarmament commission the same day the new Northern Ireland Assembly takes power.

In 2006, he helped establish the new Northern Ireland literary review Verbal and edited the publication for its first six issues.

Following the Good Friday Agreement and just five weeks after the referendum the new Northern Ireland Assembly is meeting at the same time as we are.