Current events in Northern Ireland are marked by a major political breakthrough. After two years of political blockage linked to the consequences of Brexit, the Northern Ireland Local Assembly will finally resume its work this Saturday February 3. This is good news for residents of the British province, who have been affected by the paralysis of institutions and the deterioration of public services.
This recovery will also be marked by a historic event: Michelle O’Neill, the leader of Northern Ireland’s Sinn Fein, will become the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. It is a strong symbol for this nationalist political figure who is in favor of the unification of the island. This marks an important step in the demonization of his party, formerly linked to the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
The formation of a government in Northern Ireland is based on a system of co-governance, resulting from the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 which ended decades of bloody conflict. Thus, Michelle O’Neill will work alongside a Unionist Deputy Prime Minister, representing the community committed to maintaining Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom.
The restart of Northern Irish institutions was made possible thanks to months of negotiations between the British government and the unionists of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The latter had boycotted local institutions in protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements, which they saw as a threat to Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom.
The question of the physical border between the Republic of Ireland, a member of the European Union, and Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, was a major issue in the implementation of Brexit. Finding a solution to avoid a return to a physical border while preserving the integrity of the European single market has been a major challenge. An agreement, called the “Windsor framework”, was reached a year ago between London and Brussels to ease controls on goods. However, the DUP was unconvinced by this compromise and ultimately agreed to a new deal with the UK government this week, believing it ensures the removal of the border in the Irish Sea. This decision, however, sparks dissension within the party.
These developments in Northern Ireland are being closely monitored in Brussels, which must carefully analyze the agreement reached between the British government and the DUP. The European Union is monitoring any fundamental changes in the arrangements negotiated with London.
In addition to putting an end to political paralysis, this restart of Northern Irish institutions will also allow the release of funds to support public services, strongly affected by a historic strike. An envelope of 3.3 billion pounds sterling (around 3.9 billion euros) will be allocated by the British government.
In conclusion, the resumption of work in the Northern Ireland Local Assembly marks significant progress in resolving tensions linked to Brexit. The election of Michelle O’Neill as Prime Minister is historic and demonstrates the political shift towards the unification of the island. It remains to be seen how this new political configuration will influence the future of Northern Ireland in the coming months and years.