Civil Service in the news
Leadership award - Peace Process Team
The Peace Process Team at the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has won the Civil Service Leadership Award 2007.
On 8 May 2007, the team's efforts - and those of many others - came to fruition when the devolved power-sharing Government was returned to Northern Ireland.
Towards devolution
The NIO team has led and co-ordinated the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement since 1998, working with No 10 to develop a strategy that would bring opposing parties together after years of conflict.
There have been many obstacles along the way to establishing stable power-sharing devolved Government for the people of Northern Ireland.
But Chris McNabb, NIO Head of News, says these challenges were never enough to deter the team from its mission. “There was always a determination that, no matter what, we would keep moving forward. It was slow at times but there was a commitment and a belief that we would get there.”
Historic results
Despite the challenges, the NIO team persevered and skilfully managed to help move the process forward. The results have been historic:
- The end of the IRA's paramilitary activity and the decommissioning of all its weapons.
- The creation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), with support from across the community.
- Significant progress in resolving contentious issues, such as parading.
One measure of its success is that Northern Ireland now leads the world in best practice for oversight and accountability mechanisms in policing.
Work continues
In 2006, with Home Office legal advisors, the NIO political team produced three major bills, two of them emergency and the other at two days' notice. It also continued to work closely with colleagues from across the civil service, MOD, Army, PSNI and other organisations.
Meanwhile, the NIO press office developed the Government's first 24 hour, real-time media monitoring service. It consistently receives excellent approval ratings from journalists in regular independent opinion surveys.
Challenging circumstances
Observers agree that the NIO team demonstrated impartiality and objectivity in maintaining and developing key relationships in the most challenging of circumstances.
“At the heart of all these achievements has been a passionate commitment to making Northern Ireland a better place, ensuring that the next generation will not suffer the lost opportunities of the Troubles,” says Jonathan Phillips, Permanent Secretary, NIO.
“The strength of the new cross-community administration at Stormont and the public enthusiasm for local accountable government is testament to that achievement.”
A class act
Former Senator George Mitchell, former US Envoy to Northern Ireland and Chairman of the All-Party Talks, was also witness to the team's work:
“The NIO team were a class act: energetic, creative and highly skilled professionals. They believed passionately in what they were trying to achieve and they showed the leadership, drive and sheer determination to achieve it. They brought others with them.
“They never lost sight of the strategic goal, never gave up - whatever the setbacks and challenges. That's public service at its very best.”