February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
A big push this month to get politics out of stalemate is expected, involving both the British and Irish governments. The question remains, however, if the DUP is interested in genuine engagement with republicans.
There is little sign of Ian Paisley being prepared to say, for once, “Yes,” although the Independent Monitoring Commission is expected to give the IRA a relatively clean bill of health in its report this month, further adding pressure on the DUP.
Having conceded the principle of power-sharing in December 2003, however, when he said he might have to “swallow hard” — some believe the DUP leader may surprise everyone in 2006 and strike an historic deal.
Northern Secretary Peter Hain said bluntly in his New Year message that it was “essential” for real political movement if Assembly elections are to be held in 2007. Every year that passes, he said, further damages the process.
“Big decisions had to be taken in 2005 on education, infrastructure, health and public administration,” Hain said. “Those decisions had to be taken by direct rule ministers.
“There will be more big decisions to be taken in the future, not least on policing and criminal justice, and those decisions should be taken by politicians elected by those who will be most directly affected,” Hain added.
“Unionists need to know that republicans are serious about working through exclusively lawful means,” he said. “Republicans and nationalists need to know that unionists are serious about sharing power on a genuinely equitable basis.
“They have to persuade each other that a divided past can become a shared future. And in 2006, on the issues of unequivocal support for policing and genuine political engagement, inertia is not in anyone’s interest,” Hain said.
Responding, Sinn F