McKee murder prompts politicians to re-start NI power sharing talks
How welcome to see that Theresa May has finally got off her thumbs and made a start towards restoring the devolved government in Northern Ireland, after pressure from This Site and the general public.
I wrote after Lyra McKee’s murder last weekend: “It is now 21 years since the Good Friday Agreement heralded the end of the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. Such an anniversary is a time to reaffirm the commitment to friendship – not to open up opportunities for a return to hate.
“Northern Ireland needs the restoration of its government in Stormont – now, not after Theresa May has spent another few months or years stalling so she can extend her own tenure in Number 10.
“The best way to shut down the possibility of violence is to deny people any excuse for it.”
Well…
An agreement has been reached to establish a new round of talks involving all the main political parties in Northern Ireland the UK and Irish prime ministers, Theresa May and Leo Varadkar, have said in a joint statement.
The public clamour for political progress following the killing of the journalist Lyra McKee encouraged both governments to launch a fresh attempt to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland, they said in a statement released on Friday afternoon.
It seems this is one message that has managed to get through to the UK’s recalcitrant prime minister.
Source: Deal reached for Northern Ireland power-sharing talks | Politics | The Guardian
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The power-sharing agreement broke down because of the possible scandal involving DUP leaders and a failed , well-subsidised, heating scheme. As the DUP refused to agree to an investigation, Sinn Fein declined to carry on with power-sharing as. to do so, suggested that there was nothing of import to investigate.
Pressurising the “politicians to come together” risks letting the DUP off the hook. In a way, it’s like suggesting that all kinds of dodgy practice will be ignored as long as a power-sharing Executive continues at Stormont. If anything, it is THAT scenario that threatens to undermine trust in the institutions of government.
Because of the difficult arithmetic at Westminster, the DUP wields unusual power, able to thwart May’s Brexit deal, and , now, avoid proper scrutiny of its financial dealings.
The DUP deal ends with the current Parliamentary session and Mrs May might not want to renew it – at significant cost – after the shenanigans we’ve seen. So why not make a commitment to have Westminster investigate the heating controversy?
Yes the whole mess was just literally parked up without any news as to when they were going to get around the table again. I can only assume they are still getting their pieces of silver, for being on strike, as the DUP are over here trying to keep the Cons in business supporting “she who must be obeyed”. Never picked up on any press feedback as to the accusations from the opposition that there was some shady business going on in the DUP dealings with a Public business deal…..that seemed to be the cause of the breakdown. It would also have been good to see what type of characters that the Cons had bought (£) in to hold them up.
Classic miserable DUP reluctant standing ovation on TV when preacher gave the NI politicians a long needed kick up the backsides to get round the table at the recent funeral service of that real journalist.
The incompetent nasties in government have suddenly, and belatedly, realised what they have unleashed.