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'Second chance' for Northern Ireland devolution hangs in balance
Monday, 1 February 2010
The promise of a ‘second chance’ for Stormont hangs in the balance today as the parties attempt to finalise a deal and complete devolution.
After the most intense negotiations in their history, the DUP and Sinn Fein appear close to agreement which, with the transfer of control over policing, prisons and the courts, will finish the constitutional jigsaw started with the Good Friday Agreement 12 years ago.
But, facing unprecedented levels of criticism from an increasingly sceptical public, politicians across the spectrum know they need to prove the Assembly and Executive can work and re-connect with voters.
At the start of a second week of negotiations, the parties are expected to return to Hillsborough this morning and work to complete a comprehensive agreement, which is to include: a firm date for the handover of policing and justice powers, a more localised and “enhanced” procedure for dealing with parades, a final decision on the revamp of councils, protection for the Irish language and go-ahead for a blueprint to tackle sectarianism.
The parties hope the final package, which could also include a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, will encourage the public to give devolution a ‘second chance’ after the repeated disappointments over recent months.
But Sinn Fein and the DUP, in particular, will have to go out to sell the deal in their respective communities, which could take several more weeks.
Senior Sinn Fein negotiator Gerry Kelly said — apart from a date for the transfer of responsibility from Westminster, a totemic issue for republicans — the aim was a “better relationship” with the institutions.
He told BBC Radio Ulster's Inside Politics: “It could be another small watershed in terms of moving the whole process forward.”
Senior DUP negotiator Sammy Wilson said some of the more difficult issues had been resolved and he hoped a deal could be completed today.
But he prepared his own constituency for compromises, saying: “Everybody has had to be be flexible, that's the whole point of negotiations.
“No one party can be expected to get all it wants.”
The Finance Minister said his negotiation team would first want to consult the party and then with the wider community, which he hoped could be done in the next four to five weeks, “because that's the only way in which it will stick”.
After more than 100 hours of almost continuous talks the parties took yesterday off. The DUP could not to attend meetings on a Sunday anyway.
The gap also gave officials in Belfast, Dublin and London time to prepare final texts which the party's are expected to see today.
Mr McGuinness also sounded an upbeat note yesterday. Speaking at the annual Bloody Sunday commemorations, he said: “Institutions which don't deliver are worthless and something I will not be involved in.
“I now hope we have a basis upon which nationalists, republicans, unionists and loyalists will move forward together on the basis of partnership and equality.”
Mr Brown and Mr Cowen could return for the second time in less than a week to herald a deal, but may also stay away to allow the parties to take credit — and ownership — of the deal.
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Comments
28 Comments
You make the wrong assumption, stopbeingidiots.
Posted by Ulysses32 | 05.02.10, 14:18 GMT
The guy below is just being awkward, just one of these people that won't forget petty squables and stop splitting the vote.
Posted by stopbeingidiots | 03.02.10, 10:53 GMT
Ulsterman, as a true Ulsterman I will never vote for the DUP.
Something we can agree on.
Posted by Ulysses32 | 02.02.10, 16:20 GMT
That's fair enough True British. But my homeland is Ulster too and I'm not at all British, so I guess we're just gonna have to compromise.
Sinn Fein won't have the justice ministry- probably never will...and btw, that's fine by me too.
I'd be interested in hearing your alternative suggestions.
Posted by Paolo | 02.02.10, 00:31 GMT
Its interesting how any progress in NI takes an excruciating negotiation. I have no love for Sinn Fein or DUP but applaud what apears like a good faith effort to get the job done..
Hopefully we will see a fruitful conclusion in the next day or so
Posted by Dixie Pat | 01.02.10, 23:54 GMT
Do you mean all the money from developers that was given to a certain party? Maybe you mean the Northern bank money that goes to finance the huge salaries our so-called politicians get for talking about marching and nothing else for three years? Are you Scot-Ulster or Ulster British Scot? Confused!
Posted by Don King | 01.02.10, 20:30 GMT
Have you ever tried living in Scotland?? I thought you thought that was your homeland! If you have info and proof that members of Sinn Fein were involved you should contact the police! People like you make Ulster the way it is! NO! No! =no steps forward but a lot backwards! I am a Irish Unionist!
Posted by Maggie Long | 01.02.10, 19:58 GMT
People elect politicians to do what's best for them (the people). Living with a polarised situation. My view:- let the battle commence; tally ho; forward ho the wgons.
Posted by William Gordon | 01.02.10, 19:29 GMT
No it doesn't hang in the balance-it is all a big game.
Posted by C-Realist | 01.02.10, 18:40 GMT
It always goes to the wire, and works out in the end- it is just electoral posturing. There is no way they are all giving up they big paying jobs or benefits. Unless they are stupid-then they should not be in power in the first place.
Posted by C-Realist | 01.02.10, 18:39 GMT
No deal would be the best conceivable outcome - but sadly, I think the DUP will be cowed into 'jumping first'.
Posted by Karen | 01.02.10, 18:22 GMT
Tru British...he/she says it all. What an enlightened and educated society we live in!
Posted by mike | 01.02.10, 17:57 GMT
With attitudes like that what chance do the people of Northern Ireland have of moving forward.
Posted by Mac | 01.02.10, 17:19 GMT
Dear True British ...your only British until the British government figure out some way of towing Northern Ireland out in to the Atlantic and pulling the plug out.... or until the rising Nationalist population decides to vote you out of Britian and in to a United Ireland ....or as part of a United Stated of Europe (the way the EU is heading) the border disappears and Ireland is one state. Forever may be a very short time.
Posted by Sam | 01.02.10, 16:59 GMT
ulster is not part of british isles ulster also has 9 counties not 6 as in the north the police is going to happen the catholics are going to get equal rights which have been denied for 70 odd yrs jobs housing &policing should be the most important things in stormont not parades
Posted by ray usa | 01.02.10, 16:43 GMT
bring it down, and get them out.
Posted by sjc | 01.02.10, 16:40 GMT
true british i agree with what you say but its the dup that were talking about they said lots of things in the past and let us down so i think they have sold us out again as an orange&blackman i would call on every true ulsterman never vote for these traitors again
Posted by ulsterman | 01.02.10, 15:53 GMT
Someone once said a camel is a horse designed by a committee.
I expect these protracted negotiations to produce something similar.
Posted by Fred D. | 01.02.10, 15:38 GMT
You're also the author of the most embarrassing and stupid comment I have ever seen on here. Well done!
Posted by BenjiBear | 01.02.10, 15:17 GMT
Northern Ireland is also a financial basket case and a joke on the international stage. Why does it always have to be Ulster is British or Éire 32. Can it not just be Northern Ireland for us all to live in peace. Irish, British, Scottish, Chinese, Polish whoever.
Just get over yourselves both sides.
Posted by Éamonn | 01.02.10, 14:37 GMT
28 Comments