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Why the chuckling’s all over, but the bickering leaves a chill

Eric Waugh Expand

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Eric Waugh

Eric Waugh

Eric Waugh

Apace, the dialogue of the deaf proceeds on the hill. Meantime nobody goes anywhere fast. How long can it continue?



The evidence of history is not encouraging. Fouling up the machinery of embryo democracy is an old Irish custom. Walk- outs, boycotts, refusal to recognise — all have been potent weapons. After the end of the civil war in the nascent Free State, it took de Valera four years to end his boycott of the first Dail. But up here — with power-sharing? The naive may have hoped all this was past. But what is the Sinn Fein campaign against the Executive but a boycott — or a walk-out?

The partners do have a problem with their new regime. Everyone knows it. They are obliged to work it, but feel equally obliged to display suitable reluctance. ("We don't like this, you understand. It's not what we want. But, you know, we have to go along ... ") The fact is that the working of the machinery demands a proximity to the other partners which is unavoidable: but it is essential for either side that they do not be seen actually to enjoy it.

Ian Paisley got away with the chuckling act with Martin McGuinness because he was Ian Paisley. His unassailable pedigree vaccinated him against treachery. His successors lack the same immunisation. Above all, reluctant followers, of whom there are large armies, must always be placated so that, on both sides, they can be kept on board. McGuinness has the same problem.

Going along with the deal is the price of a voice in government. But, if he accepts the regime, heavens, he must not be seen too warmly to embrace it.

But, thanks to the guardian of all crusaders, the necessary weapon is at hand! Language! How better to insult daily those followers of your partner who in your heart you deeply despise? So the head of government in the neighbouring jurisdiction is invariably referred to as if his writ also ran in these parts; while the Prime Minister, whose writ does run here, without fail, is distanced as an offshore ‘British’ functionary.

All this has carefully calculated purpose. There are wild veterans on board the green train some of whom, in their hearts, hanker after the dark days when they served the ‘national’ cause by shooting in the back husbands of young women and fathers of young children from behind a hedge as they went about their daily round.

These decommissioned warriors must be kept on board. To that end, consistent rudeness to the enemy is held to be essential.

Gregory Campbell's barbed tribute to the Tyrone GAA team last week, congratulating it on its victory in the ‘international’ match in Dublin, is the other side of the coin.

It appears the joint congratulation suggested by Sinn Fein ministers was a bridge too far for the DUP. There had been further difficulties earlier over what the administration unitedly would say about the victims of Omagh.

Of course we know the game that is being played. The knife is being twisted again. Robinson and Campbell also have difficult passengers to keep on board; so they, too, must pay regular Danegeld to the hardest hearts. The problem is that this ill-will tends to destabilise the power-sharing train.

It is a fragile thing. It has never been tried in this form before — anywhere. If it works, the proof is for Stormont to provide: no one else can do it. So it is a nice question whether the churlishness cultivated on either side does not amount to living dangerously — which we can ill afford. Of enthusiasm within the administration for the task to which its members have been elected there is little sign. Instead there is a dog-in-the-manger sulk which could prove fatal. It is small-minded. It is petty. We deserve better.

In the end there is little future for an Executive where the basic courtesies are studiously ignored and where point-scoring against supposed colleagues takes precedence; and of course it is quite pernicious for a meeting of the Executive to be used as a weapon in the tribal war when it is within the confidential avenue of that same ministerial meeting that the dispute must in the end be resolved. The real world awaits the attention of our hidebound ministers. They may be creatures of their history. The challenge to them is that they slough it off. Cold winds are blowing.

Winter will soon be upon us. The world outside is in brutal mood and no longer has time to give us. Ministers should reassemble on Thursday determined, not on a holding operation, but on getting the show back on the road.

Belfast Telegraph

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