News has just broken that there will be a power-sharing deal between Sinn Fein and the DUP in the North of Ireland. This is a momentous occasion for the North of Ireland, and a symbol of a positive future to come. It could have been stale mate again, with direct rule imposed on the North, but Paisley has declared that he is ready to govern alongside Sinn Fein. On Saturday, the DUP executive overwhelmingly endorsed a motion committing their party to support the deal. The party will participate fully in government in May of this year, and state that it will be ' a binding resolution."
The power sharing executive is set to begin on the 8th of May. The way in which the politicians have dealt with this situation is commendable, and I am sure that my family in the North are pleased that the conflict of the past will be replaced with a future of co-operation and trust.
This is an example to us here in Wales that we must take tough decisions to make devolution succeed.
The power sharing executive is set to begin on the 8th of May. The way in which the politicians have dealt with this situation is commendable, and I am sure that my family in the North are pleased that the conflict of the past will be replaced with a future of co-operation and trust.
This is an example to us here in Wales that we must take tough decisions to make devolution succeed.
4 comments:
This is excellent news. To think that until very recently the DUP wouldn't even sit in the same room as Sinn Fein. Both parties have come a long way.
I think Peter Hain was right to stick to the deadline. Just like with the Good Friday agreement, if no deadline was imposed then they could still be discussing power sharing for years to come.
It is excellent news, yes but I don't agree on the deadline issue.
If you saw Peter Hain on the news yesterday he basically said that the deadline would be flexible if the two parties could come up with a deal. They have to be the ones spearheading this, not Westminster.
The nature of the deal has to be between the two parties. But as you may recall at the time of the Good Friday agreement, the parties had to have discussions through the night because of a deadline.
It worked then and it seems to have worked now.
I also wonder if the water bills were introduced with a mind to this. Both the DUP and Sinn Fein agree on this issue and the best way to stop the bills was to reinstate the assembly and thus remove the powers from the secretary of state. If it was, it was certainly playing with fire. But it looks like history may forgive the government.
Hmmm....the most unionist and the most nationalist party working together in government. Couldn't happen here could it ? hee hee
Hmmm....the most unionist and the most nationalist party working together in government. Couldn't happen here could it ? hee hee
The Tories might still be the most unionist party in Wales, but they've long since lost the title of most Anti-Welsh party to Labour.
Great news from Stormont, and Im sure (as everyone in Belfast is) that he'll lap up as much credit as he can in his campaign to be Deputy PM, but the real credit goes to the people of Northern Ireland.
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