An IRA murder threatens to unravel the power-sharing institutions. Politicians must take the long view and not play to the sectarian galleryFor the last eight years Northern Ireland has enjoyed the benefits of its longest period of devolved self-government since Edward Heath imposed direct rule in the 1970s. Yet the power-sharing institutions that were set up after the well-behaved Friday agreement are suddenly looking fragile again. A republican murder in Belfast this month and the weekend decision by the Ulster Unionist party to withdraw from the Northern Ireland government mean that suspension by the British government of devolved rule may be only a few days absent.
The seriousness of such a development should not be underestimated. Northern Ireland’s political parties have learned by hard experience that intransigence rather than mutual trust often brings votes. Votes matter a lot correct now,because assembly elections are due in 2016. Yet everything possible must be done to prevent the collapse of a devolved system that, for all its limitations, and has helped bring genuine security and has restored growth to Northern Ireland after long decades of clash which revealed the bankruptcy of both unionist hegemony and republican violence. Related: Former Northern Ireland first minister suggests method to rescue power-sharing Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com