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IN JANUARY 2017 Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness announced his resignation as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland bringing the, once-promising, power-sharing arrangement with the DUP to an acrimonious end.
In the two years since there has been:
Numerous failed attempts to restore power.
The appointment of two new Northern Ireland secretaries by the UK government.
A fresh round of elections to the assembly.
A general election in the UK.
Pay cuts of nearly £14,000 (€15,818) for assembly members.
During that time, the DUP became a vital prop keeping Prime Minister Theresa May’s government in power in the House of Commons and Martin McGuinness passed away.
Meanwhile, talks attempting to resolve the crisis have proved futile, the gates of Stormont remain shut and it doesn’t look like the padlocks will be removed anytime soon.
Arlene Foster, signs a book of condolences for Martin McGuinness, as Sinn Fein NI leader Michelle O'Neill looks on. PA Archive / PA Images
PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images
So, who is running the North?
With no functioning government for more than two years, the North is effectively being run by unelected civil servants who are operating with limited resources.
Westminster has twice passed budgets since the devolved institutions collapsed however it has stopped short of imposing direct rule from London.
The region has a recent history of being under direct rule. The latest period ran from 2002 until 2007 and it was in place for 26 years from 1972 until 1998 during the Troubles.
Campaigner Dylan Quinn walked from Enniskillen to Stormont in protest at the lack of a functioning government. Niall Carson
Niall Carson
As the two-year anniversary passed on 9 January, both parties made positive sounding statements about supporting restoring the assembly but the political realities have not shifted and a deal looks as far away as ever.
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Why can’t they agree to share power?
There have been several aborted efforts to reopen Stormont in the past two years. The most recent round of discussions got underway when Karen Bradley was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in January 2018.
A draft deal appeared to have been approved by all sides but it dramatically fell through on Valentines Day. Sinn Féin blamed the DUP for the break down while the DUP said it could not agree to a standalone Irish Language Act, as was sought by their republican counterparts.
Language has routinely been a flash point between the two parties. Sinn Féin has been seeking the introduction of an Irish language Act (Acht na Gaeilge), which would give Irish equal status with English, for more than a decade.
While prominent DUP politicians have mocked Irish in the Northern Assembly and, party leader, Arlene Foster has argued that there should be a Polish language act instead because she claims that more people in Northern Ireland speak Polish than Irish.
Party leader Arlene Foster speaking during the DUP annual conference. Michael Cooper
Michael Cooper
The two parties also, of course, have polar opposite views on the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Sinn Féin has called for a referendum on Irish unity in the event of a no-deal Brexit and it wants Northern Ireland to remain in the EU, while the DUP wants to leave and has insisted that the North must be treated exactly the same as the rest of the UK following the withdrawal.
What happens now?
In a bid to break the deadlock, Bradley announced in September that assembly members’ salaries were being slashed by almost £14,000. She also ruled out calling an election despite being required to do under legislation.
Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley. Victoria Jones
Victoria Jones
“I have not believed and do not now believe that holding an election during this time of significant change and political uncertainty would be helpful or would increase the prospects of restoring the Executive,” she explained.
With the two largest parties at loggerheads over the role of the Irish language and on the opposite sides of the Brexit divide it appears as if they waiting to see how the UK’s withdrawal from the EU plays out before returning to local governance.
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62 Comments
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@Juan Fangio: it’s the north of Ireland, do you want a compass it will point you in the direction. Weather you want to call it Northern Ireland or not is an irrelevant reply
@Ali Ní Dhomhnaill: The point I was making was that Willy’s report refers solely to the Republic of Ireland, nothing to do with the North or Northern Ireland, whichever you wish to call it.
Love the way the DUP think it’s ok to ignore the will of the people of the North over Brexit.
The vote was to remain, yet they decide that’s not for them!!
@Tony Gordon: Large sections of the business Unionist are pretty mad at them. Hard to get an accurate on the farmers but they stand to loose their EU subsidies.
@Willy Mc Caul: desperate. I’d point out that RTE only published that an hour ago themselves, and it’s a Sunday morning, before you engage in implications the Journal is suppressing news, and increasing your own impression of desperation, perhaps give the Journal a chance?
@Vocal Outrage: and i`d point out to you that it was UPDATED at 7 this morning and not first published, PS, i also read the original article on RTE`s website last night.
It would help you to look at where the article says it in the left hand corner near the top.
“Updated / Sunday, 20 Jan 2019 07:19″…But carry on there lad, you`re doing a great job other than that.
@Jane: And exactly where did i say that? I simply pointed out to the bloke who was slagging another commenter, and was cocksure that the report was published for the first time at 7 this morning was wrong, What part of that can`t you understand?
I suggested nothing of the sort, but bang on there luv, you`re doing a great job other than that.
Great one for trying to find things that don`t exist aren`t you?
@Jane: PS, YOU and Vocal outrage are the only 2 people that brought up conspiracy theories, the OP didn`t. You haven`t even got the brain power to decipher who said what LOL
@Jane: point out to me where i suggested that the Journal is conspiring against SF or anything remotely like it in that comment, explain to me how you came to the conclusion that it is what i was suggesting.
Ye can`t, because you only see things that you want to see, things that aren`t there…
@Pixie McMullen: Sir, i think you will find I was referring to the publication of the RTE article, rather than the times you’ve given which appear to be in reference to this article. Further, I unfortunately can’t see when articles were updated, rather than 1st published, as I’m viewing upon a mobile device.
However, the crux of my point is how SF commentators are quick to attack both the journalists and other commentators on this site. An observation you have so eloquently proven yourself above.
@Pixie McMullen: Again I asked you a question. I didn’t say you were say or doing anything. I asked if that’s what you were suggesting. Maybe if you relaxed a little and read it again you’ll see the ? this time.
@Vocal Outrage: Sir, YOU said the article was published this morning, which was the basis of your slagging off the original poster, YOU are the one who attacked the original poster and accused him of saying that the journal was withholding information, he never said any such thing in his post, Not my fault you are viewing on a mobile device and couldn`t see that the article was updated, maybe you shouldn`t be saying things that you aren`t sure about. YOU were quick to attack the commentor without knowing the full facts, not me. Therefore the crux of your point is invalid, as YOU are the one who has done what you are accusing others of.
That eloquent enough for you mate?
@Vocal Outrage: PS – How come i can see Updated / Sunday, 20 Jan 2019 07:19 clearly on my mobile phone under the headline through that link and you can`t ? – or are you just telling porkies trying to get out of a hole?
@Willy Mc Caul: This is an article about the elected morons in Norn Ireland not doing the work they are being paid to do and that includes Sinn Fein, which is another reason the majority will never vote for these clowns ever again down here. None of them should be paid a penny, they are not working.
@TonySuperSaints: Sinn Féin, and I think it’s 3 parliaments (EU Parliament, House of Commons and an tOireachtas), 1 devolved assembly (Stormont) and councillor seats in two jurisdictions (Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland).
If the Northern Secretary is obliged by legislation to call an election, how is she being permitted not to do so, such actions are illegal? The very reason that it is her opinion that the division of seats won’t change, or her opinion it won’t solve the impasse, or the fact she maybe under political duress by the numbers in Westminster is why this type of thing is enshrined in legislation.
@Vocal Outrage: I agree. It is also within Teresa Mays power to bring in the legislation for the language act, same sex marriage etc as the executive is not functioning. Passing that legislation would remove the barriers to getting the executive up and running. But of course she doesn’t want that.
@Vocal Outrage: Karen Bradley recently pushed legislation through parliament preventing any elections in NI for two years under the guise of stalement, therefore preventing any true reflection on the current political climate in NI, there is increasing support for remain even from the DUPs own supporters who see their eu money being flushed down the toilet, if the majority of people vote sinn Fein sdlp alliance independent leaving the dup floundering, it automatically triggers a united Ireland vote, I think that there are enough disgruntled dup supporters to abstain or worse protest vote if an election had been called in NI, that’s the real reason that the two year time frame was passed, all done while the rest were sitting there with their arms folded.
@Kathy Paul Dowd: ah, so the article isn’t 100% accurate then. There was a legal requirement upon the Northern Secretary but she then got the law changed to suit to Northern and Westminster political dynamics
@Vocal Outrage: yes that was why she got government approval to withhold elections for two years, by that time brexit will sorted and the dup outrage will be long forgotten, it will be back to same old same old with no chance of a landslide win for Sinn Fein etc, nor a crushing defeat for Dup, thus no triggering of the border poll, which is exactly what would happen if elections were held now.
So Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland are unable to be part of a government.
In The Republic of Ireland after the last election they didn’t want to be part of a government.
In The UK they won’t take their seats …it’s really just about taking the money for them isn’t it.
@Cal Mooney: so they just take the money with the queens head on it instead.Whats the odds that if they didn’t have to swear the allegiance they still wouldn’t take the seats.They just want to sit on the sidelines and take the money.
@Dave Doyle: how is it a rant ….it’s the truth.Its very easy to sit on the sidelines and moan but won’t go into government.
What’s the point in voting for any party that won’t go into government not just SF.
@silveryD: Just to remind you after the last general election in the 26 counties, the blueshirts and F.F. stated .. under no circumstances would they talk to S.F. concerning the formation of the government. As for taking up their seats in Westminster.. S.F. in their election manifesto stated they would not take their seats in Westminster if elected. You seem to have a problem with a party that keeps their word to the people who voted for them. Unlike the Blueshirt/F.F. coalition who between them have precipitated in scandal after scandal since the foundation of the state.
@Willy Mc Caul: except that poll refers to SF support in the 26 counties, and does not reflect support in any potential Assembly elections in the 6 counties.
BREXIT is by far the biggest challenge and threat to this island since the IRA surrender, yet both DUP and Provisional SF cowards continue to refuse to represent the people who voted for them. Salaries should have been cut 100% from day one. Wood chips and language on motorway signs are very minor compared to the real issues currently facing the people in NI
@Stephen Kearon: Hows the website work going Stephen? Still making thousands from administering one? or did that gravy train finish for you?
There is nothing like a good old Fianna Fáil man still using the Provisional Sinn Féin line, have they accepted you back into the fold after you getting chucked out?
@Pixie McMullen: typical Provisional SF apologist who cant even get basic facts rights, Ive been a proud member of FF, Ireland’s only real Republican party, continuously since college
@Stephen Kearon: Did you not object to SF visiting Palestine lately and their endorsement of a ban on imports from the illegally occupied territories in Palestine. I mention this because your own party have now decided to support SF and others opposing goods from territories under illegall occupuation while based on your own comments condemn anyone who supports the boycott of goods under occupation. Are you conflicted?
It’s a political poker game, DUP want direct rule with no role for SF, & the Shinners just want Stormont closed permanently, based on the theory that London will eventually abandon the six counties.
The big money is on the latter, with farms being bought in Scotland, students attending UK colleges, & quite an upsurge in Irish passport & driving licence applications.
People are making choices & decisions ahead of the inevitable, & as long as it continues peaceably, let it take its course.
Little England, with its Neo colonialist preference, does not seem a good bet anyway you judge it.
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