And they said it wouldn't last....
| 11:50 UK time, Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Tomorrow marks the 100th day of power-sharing. It seems like just yesterday (May 8) that the ministers were starting out in yet another chance at power-sharing. I'm working on a report for Evening Extra, Newsline 6.30 and Online. So far, I've interviewed Gerry Adams who sounded more negative than positive at first, complaining about inequality and pointing to the on-going problems around sectarianism. But he soon started to sound more like a supporter, when he declared: "The fact that the institutions are in place and that you will have 100 days is a huge achievement. And fair play to everyone involved in that. But it is all work in progress. I'm minded of when someone was asked what they thought about the French revolution. They said it was 'too soon to tell'."
Ian Paisley the First Minister was more forthcoming, talking up the assembly's "positive early influence" in tackling flash flooding, attracting new jobs, and the potential threat from Foot and Mouth disease.
As for Jim Allister, the DUP's former MEP, he has no qualms about making a judgement, and has declared republicans have gained more out of the new administration.
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Although I am a fellow Unionist, I cannot agree with Jim Allister's interpretation of power-sharing so far. Republicans have not gained a United Ireland which is their main aim and they now take their seats within a devolved assembly within the United Kingdom. I believe that Republicans have been on the back foot since 1998 and the Good Firday agreement.
I was disappointed by the comments of Ian Paisley regarding the Irish Language Act. It seems to point to a fatal flaw in the functioning of the Executive - the party leader says his party will block the Irish Language Act, irrespective of its contents (although a draft indicative act has been published, the vast majority of Irish speakers support something much stronger and this should be reflected in the second consultation process). This leaves the Culture Minister, Edwin Poots, open to accusations that he is acting partially, in the party interest, in respect of the proposed legislation. This could end up in the courts... If Edwin Poots does the bidding of his party and doesn't bring forward the Act, he will need to be on solid LEGAL and political ground. And where would such a rejection leave powersharing....not in a good place I fear.
Concubhar I suggest you re-read the GFA and the St Andrews deal.
There is nothing to legally require Poots or any other Minister to bring forward any particular bit of legislation
A senior member of the UUP said to me several years ago regarding devolved government "this will only work when it runs into difficulty and Ian Paisley will come in as Mr Fix It. Following this he will make it work". The man never claimed to be a prophet but he made a good attempt.
Well well, Jim Allister isn't happy with devolution.
To paraphrase - "Well he would say that wouldn't he".
Maybe Jim would like to point out what republicans have supposedly gained.....
As I said in a previous comment in the Devenport Diaries, "Didn't quite get the United Ireland, but being able to read how to check your testicles for lumps in Irish is the next best thing, isn't it?"
Give them their blessed act. They need something out of the process.
'Give them their blessed act. They need something out of the process'
how patronising! post something worthwhile or dont post at all!
Nothing patronising about it. The shinners did not achieve any sort of a victory out of the peace process.
They were soundly beaten by a combination of factors that makes their antics on the day of the first ceasefire look all the more ridiculous.
Answer Paul's question - what have republicans gained?
If the DFM had stood in front of a crowd in Derry in 1974 and told them the IRA was going to spend the next 20 years killing hundreds of Catholics, women, children and civilians so that Sinn Fein could one day play an active part in governing Northern Ireland from Stormont, then it would be a victory.
So yes, give them their blessed act. They need something out of the process.
"The shinners did not achieve any sort of a victory out of the peace process."
everyone got peace - thats a victory for all.
It's not a victory for those who opposed peace and thought they could get what they wanted by violence. Turns out they were wrong all along. Duh.
Actually the provos didn't make the least gains - the loyalists did. They didn't quite destroy the IRA, but some of them might get a million quid if they drag their sorry asses in line with the rest of us. Thanks very much, UDA.
Hope it was worth it. (Remember to keep a tenner aside for sniffing the rest up your noses).
As for the UVF, they have won the title of most prolific song-writers of the past 30 years and very little else.
So it's a victory for you cormac, and me, because we like peace. We don't like the thought of getting shot or blown up. That threat is away, we have won. The people who wanted a united Ireland by force have not won. The people who wanted to terrorise Catholics and nationalists into emigrating across the border have not won. It is only when they stopped this sort of behaviour they got a chance at achieving their aims.
It's not a victory for those who opposed peace and thought they could get what they wanted by violence. Turns out they were wrong all along. Duh.
Actually the provos didn't make the least gains - the loyalists did. They didn't quite destroy the IRA, but some of them might get a million quid if they drag their sorry asses in line with the rest of us. Thanks very much, UDA.
Hope it was worth it. (Remember to keep a tenner aside for sniffing the rest up your noses).
As for the UVF, they have won the title of most prolific song-writers of the past 30 years and very little else.
So it's a victory for you cormac, and me, because we like peace. We don't like the thought of getting shot or blown up. That threat is away, we have won. The people who wanted a united Ireland by force have not won. The people who wanted to terrorise Catholics and nationalists into emigrating across the border have not won.
Well it seems that both victors and the losers share the crown.