Mr Swann, noting the “immense” contribution of Queen’s to life here, took the opportunity to reflect on where Northern Ireland had come from – a deeply divided society – and where it might go in the future.
Recalling the 1998 Agreement’s commitment to partnerhsip, Mr Swann noted the challenges faced by all in restoring the Assembly and Executive.
“Power sharing is something that must be built on trust, it must be built on respect and it must be built on fairness in sharing space, sharing power and sharing responsibility”, said Mr Swann, calling for a return to the original intention of the Belfast Agreement – power sharing.