Back on the right road

February 06 2010 04:46 AM

IS this one more historic milestone in Northern Ireland's long and wearisome journey from hostility to harmony? Or is it another false dawn, destined to be overshadowed by some fresh outbreak of obduracy?

As nearly two weeks of acrimonious negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Fein looked like going from bad to worse last Tuesday, the outgoing SDLP leader, Mark Durkan, reminded everyone that this weekend marks the 1,000th day of devolution and still the DUP and Sinn Fein could barely exchange a civil word. The road ahead looked bleak.

Then, somehow, within 24 hours, there was a change of pace and mood, which seemed to coincide with Peter Robinson's return to the position of First Minister. Interestingly, on the same day, the Northern Secretary warned in the House of Commons that if no agreement was reached within days, the North could lose £800m that had been pledged by the prime minister.

Following disclosure of scandals involving his wife, the DUP leader had announced he was relinquishing his Assembly position for six weeks. It seemed unlikely that he could ever recover sufficient political strength to effect an agreement on policing and justice with the backing of his party.

Then, on Wednesday, miraculously transformed from broken man to strong and confident leader, and cleared of having breached the ministerial code of conduct, Mr Robinson reclaimed his position.

The following night, the deal was struck.

Stated quickly, the outcome might make one wonder what took so long. Policing and justice powers are to be repatriated and there are to be new arrangements for overseeing parades, involving local consultation and mediation.

Well, are we finally there? It is interesting to note how different parties view the outcome.

For the Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward, it is "the last part of the jigsaw". For Gordon Brown, it is the "beginning of a new chapter". But US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was perhaps more circumspect when she described it as "another important step" towards full and lasting peace.

As Maurice Hayes cautions today, the DUP leadership still has its work cut out to secure its grassroots' approval for something they would never have contemplated a few months ago . . . the participation of republicans in the administration of justice.