It's a historic moment, but one that SDLP leader Mark Durcan and Ulster Unionist leader Reg Empey are approaching with caution. Durkan, while expressing the hope that Northern Ireland could "move from the politics of stand-off to the politics of lift-off" warned against "side deals" that might isolate the smaller parties and of the agreement being unnecessarily nit-picked. Empey described the historic progress as the "Belfast agreement for slow learners".

Every concession, every tiny step to progress, every initiative in the North has moved at an agonisingly slow pace. But it has moved. Now, if Sinn Fein and the DUP can follow another series of carefully choreographed steps, a fully functioning power-sharing executive could be in place by 26 March, 2007.

It's a tantilising prospect and one that Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern have worked hard for. This weekend, everyone, including Paisley and Gerry Adams, has been careful to use moderate language and to recognise that there is still much work to be done.

It is ironic and unexpected indeed that it is the extremists who hold the most hope for the future.

A decade ago, nobody would have believed that.

Within six months, we could see Paisley elected First Minister with Martin McGuinness as his deputy.

Paisley articulated the aspirations of all of the people when he said they would then be on the way to a proper peace and "a better life for every child in Northern Ireland". That's what Sinn Fein wants too.