The Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), Micheál Martin, has recently announced that he does not intend to establish a “fake deadline” regarding the restoration of Northern Ireland’s institutions. Such institutions include the stable functioning of the executive, which has not been in operation for over two years. Micheál’s statement comes amidst growing concerns about the failings of the Good Friday Agreement and the potential implications of Brexit. In this article, we delve deeper into Micheál’s stance on this matter, as well as the ramifications of the precarious political climate in Northern Ireland.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has stated that he is not interested in setting a “fake deadline” on the restoration of Northern Ireland’s institutions, but suggested that a resolution may not be far away. The Taoiseach made the comments in an interview with RTÉ Radio’s This Week, stating that while the parties and the two governments were engaging on the issue, there was no formal timeline in place. He expressed a desire to build a common position between the Irish and British governments, which would increase the chances of success in the restoration of the institutions.
Varadkar acknowledged that the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement had passed without the institutions being up and running. He further noted that other factors needed to be taken into consideration, and that his goal was to bring the institutions back online within the next few months.
Reviews of the agreement, Varadkar contended, should not take place until the institutions were operational again, despite some saying that a review might improve their functionality. Reflecting on the St Andrew’s review of 2006, Varadkar said it helped overcome the impasse at the time but created unintended consequences that impacted future operations. “One unintended consequence was a clause which allowed the two biggest parties to effectively veto the institutions by refusing to nominate a first minister or deputy first minister.”
The Taoiseach believes that reviews should be handled with caution, as they could potentially have negative ramifications. Meanwhile, Varadkar also expressed that the visit of US President Joe Biden to Ireland would strengthen the close ties between the United States and Ireland, which are at their best.
On the issue of housing, Varadkar admitted that it is a massive political issue that often arises in conversations he has with constituents. He said the crisis was on the verge of changing for the better, citing trends in the housing market.
“House prices are levelling off and, if anything, falling a little. We have had record numbers of first-time buyers in the last few months. Why is this happening? Because of the increased supply [and] because of schemes the Government has put in place.”
Finally, Varadkar touched on the recent poll that showed Fine Gael’s support had dropped by eight percentage points. The Taoiseach stated that he does not generally read into one poll, rather taking into account three or four to get a better understanding of where the public stands. According to Varadkar, two polls from the previous two weeks showed Fine Gael’s support level increasing.
