There is no legal basis for the Republic of Ireland to play a leading role in the government of Northern Ireland, former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Prime Minister Paul Givan told the Belfast Telegraph on November 14.
Givan commented on the results of the Belfast Telegraph poll, which showed that the majority of Northern Ireland residents want the Republic of Ireland to have a say in the governance of the region if local government institutions are not restored.
According to the former minister, the survey results “ignore” the reality that Dublin has no legal basis to rule Northern Ireland and the focus should be on changing the Northern Ireland Protocol.
“Most people want to see a return restoration. Only the protocol stops the immediate formation of the executive power. The warning that devolution and the Protocol cannot coexist was issued 14 months ago by Sir Geoffrey Donaldson, well before the last Assembly election.”– he said.
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Doug Beatty said his party is also opposed to joint power. “This is unacceptable and will not work. This would be a death blow to the Belfast Agreement and destroy the very foundation on which it was built and received such wide support.”emphasized.
However, other parties were not so categorical in their assessments. For example, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said that if the institutions of power in Northern Ireland were not restored, his party “I cannot allow this place to be run by a Tory government which has been a complete disaster for Britain and has shown little interest in matters affecting people here.”.
“The Irish government already has a huge influence on events in the North and anyone who tries to deny it is living a fantasy”he added.
People Against Profits MP Gerry Carroll said joint power was not a solution to the problems facing Northern Ireland and called unionist opposition “shallow”.
“Political institutions built on the basis of the division of communities offer nothing but instability and hardship for our communities”– he said.
Let us remember that on October 28, the 24-week period for the formation of the current executive power in Northern Ireland after the May elections expired. In this regard, the UK government is required to call new elections within 12 weeks.
Executive power in Northern Ireland has been dormant since February 2022 following the resignation of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Prime Minister Paul Givan. The May elections did not improve the situation, as all the DUP ministers refused to enter the government in protest at the operation of the Northern Ireland protocol.
Under the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland operates under the principle of separation of powers. Representatives of the main nationalist and unionist parties must be present in equal parts in the government. And if one side refuses to participate in the management, then the power automatically stops working.
Due to the current political crisis in Stormont, there are proposals in political circles to return direct rule of the region from London. In addition, the Republic of Ireland has also indicated its willingness to participate with Great Britain in the administration of Northern Ireland in accordance with the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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