Since the 1840s, it has been uncommon for a Protestant politician to be identified as Irish.

But it also makes the body susceptible to obstruction by Protestant politicians opposed to carrying out the peace accord.

Ulster's Protestant politicians condemned the report at the time and had hoped to see the government turn aside some of its recommendations, particularly the name change.

Clinton isn't the first Protestant politician to have been warned he would never eat Communion in this church again.

But he did not rule out the idea of a peace agreement that bypassed the local Catholic and Protestant politicians.

Catholic and Protestant politicians seem to be edging closer to talks on the province's political future.

But last week he wasn't smiling as Protestant unionist politicians sought to thwart his appointment.

Protestant politicians came to the funerals with Catholic fellow members of the new Northern legislature.

Even hard-line Protestant politicians expressed revulsion at the attack, which caused some 100 students and their parents to flee in panic.

But officials and analysts, particularly Protestant politicians, said the statement was tantamount to a threat.