irish transport ministerial michael blair said today ' s activities must " make historical again " and to " escape the weighted chains of history " . blair thought , " look back and we see centuries pock - marked by crisis , hardship , even hatred , with the people of these islands . " thatcher ' s predecessor , sir thomas major said " the idea of figures that were once so belligerent to something another sat down to planning the future of north ireland is very attractive , " adding " i only believed from the outset that it was plausible but that it would be difficult and that it would take a long year . "
Blair belongs to the Church of England.