Party Leaders Meet to Discuss Priorities for New Northern Ireland Government
After two years of devolution collapse, party leaders and officials in Northern Ireland have met to discuss the priorities for the first day of a new government. The Sinn Féin, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Alliance Party, and Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) held talks at Stormont Castle on Friday afternoon. The UUP confirmed that they would take up a role in the executive, rather than entering an official opposition.
The Northern Ireland Assembly is set to sit on Saturday, marking the two-year anniversary of devolution collapse. The DUP made the decision to end its boycott of Stormont after reaching a new deal with the government on post-Brexit trade rules. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson stated that his party would end the boycott after MPs passed legislation on the new deal.
The meeting on Friday focused on the incoming priorities for the future executive. Sir Jeffrey emphasized the importance of understanding these priorities for everyone in Northern Ireland. He expressed his anticipation for the Assembly meeting on Saturday and the restoration of devolution.
On Saturday, the first order of business for members will be to elect a new speaker in the assembly chamber. Once the speaker is elected, the parties entitled to jointly lead the executive will make their nominations. Sinn Féin will nominate a first minister for the first time, while the DUP, as the largest unionist party, will nominate a deputy first minister. It is widely anticipated that Emma Little-Pengelly will be nominated as the deputy first minister, but the DUP has not confirmed this.
There has been speculation about which departments Stormont parties will take. The Alliance Party has yet to confirm if it will enter government or opposition. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), which is the fifth-largest party, will go into opposition as it does not qualify to be part of the next executive.
The new deal reached will reduce checks and paperwork on goods moving from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland. It means that there will no longer be routine checks on goods sent to Northern Ireland from Great Britain. The DUP had demanded changes to the way goods are traded between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and with the new legislation passed, they now support the restoration of the Stormont institutions.
The return of a power-sharing executive at Stormont will result in a £3.3 billion package from the UK Treasury to support struggling public services in Northern Ireland. However, Sir Jeffrey stated that more funding is needed beyond the one-year public sector pay awards covered by the package.
A group of unionists, including Jim Allister and Jamie Bryson, published a legal opinion from former Northern Ireland attorney general John Larkin KC. They questioned the legal advice claimed by Sir Jeffrey, stating that it does not restore Article 6 of the Act of Union. Sir Jeffrey disagreed with their legal opinion and criticized their lack of action in bringing about change.
Overall, the meeting of party leaders in Northern Ireland has set the stage for the restoration of devolution and the formation of a new government. The priorities for the future executive will be addressed, and the focus will be on securing additional funding for public services. The new deal reached on post-Brexit trade rules has brought about changes that have satisfied the DUP and led to the end of their boycott. As Northern Ireland moves forward, it remains to be seen how the new government will address the challenges and opportunities ahead.