First minister and head of DUP Ian Paisley 4 March announced resignation. 70 protesters attacked police 25 March in Londonderry.

Real IRA claimed responsibility for non-fatal shootings of off-duty police officers in Derry and Dungannon 8, 12 November, latter attack same day Sinn Féin representatives joined district police partnership committee. Group threatened further attacks 27 November in video. 2 suspected IRA dissidents arrested 28 November after 8 November shooting of police officer in Londonderry. UDA renounced violence and said disbanding all armed units and sealing of arsenal 11 November. Rival UVF also said would seal weapons. Independent Monitoring Commission reported 7 November IRA dissident groups responsible for 3 killings in March and May 2007; no mention of possible IRA connection to October killing of truck driver.

Decision by Social Development Minister Ritchie to cut Conflict Transformation Initiative funding to Ulster Defence Association (UDA) on ground that group still involved in violence, condemned by protestant colleague Finance Minister Robinson. Exchange came week after UDA failed to meet 9 October deadline to start weapons decommissioning. 20 October fatal assault on truck driver suspected of cross-border fuel smuggling linked by family to IRA; claim rejected by local Sinn Fein leaders.

Republic of Ireland governing party Fianna Fail announced considering NI presence; Social Democratic and Labour Party welcomed move amid speculation of possible merger. Tensions between Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and breakaway faction in south Antrim saw suspected UDA bomb attack on house in Carrickfergus and retaliatory shootings 22, 24 September. Independent Monitoring Commission confirmed British troops cut to peacetime levels.

Ulster Defence Association (UDA) told to begin decommissioning weapons within 60 days or lose community project funding following UDA- organised attacks on police in Bangor 1 August.

British army ended 38-year NI operation 31 July; 5,000 troops will remain but police to hold sole responsibility for security. First Minister Paisley and Democratic Unionist Party ministers attended North-South Ministerial Council 17 July, meeting with Republic of Ireland counterparts for first time since body set up under 1998 Good Friday Agreement. British-Irish Council summit held 16 July.

Prosecutors said insufficient evidence to charge former police officers over 1998 murder of lawyer Pat Finucane, despite proof of police collusion. Government warned Ulster Defence Association would lose £500k state funding unless began disarming. Shaun Woodward appointed new Sec. State for NI. British army withdrew from Bessbrook base in NI drawdown.

Devolved power-sharing government resumed under leadership of First Minister Ian Paisley (DUP) and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (Sinn Fein) 8 May. Paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) declared 3 May renouncing violence and ceasing to exist as a terrorist organisation. Arms decommissioning body said UVF pledge to keep weapons “beyond reach” did not meet legal requirements; urged weapon destruction. 3 Sinn Fein representatives took seats on Policing Board.

4 main party leaders announced distribution of ministerial portfolios in new executive due to convene 8 May. Additional DUP councillors resigned in protest of March agreement to share power with Sinn Fein (SF). Youth violence in West Belfast saw intervening police attacked 11 April. SF named 3 nominees, including 1 ex- convict, to Policing Board after holding first ever talks with board.

Historic breakthrough in peace process as Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin (SF) leaders Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams agreed to share power in governing province from 8 May. Emergency legislation passed in Westminster 27 March to allow implementation of previous day’s accord. Jim Allister, DUP’s only MEP, and several DUP councillors, quit party in protest of deal. In first joint DUP-SF letter, Paisley and SF’s Martin McGuinness asked NI Sec. Peter Hain to vacate Stormont office; Hain said “delighted” to.