After two years of parliamentary paralysis, Northern Ireland finally got its new government on Saturday, February 3.
Michelle O’Neill was appointed as the New First Minister of the country.
She has created the history as she is the first Nationalist First Minister belonging to a political party linked to the Irish Republican Army named as Sinn Fein, the Republicans or Nationalists.
The party has long lasting history of regular conflicts and fighting with the British Kingdom and Unionists which is the opposition party Democratic Union Party returning to the govt. after two years of deadlock.
Why was the parliament paralyzed?
The paralysis was over the new trade rules between the Britain and the Northern Ireland occurred due to Brexit.
The ‘Windsor framework’ had replaced the Northern Ireland’s protocols for trade and commerce, creating both political and economic problems via the DUP.
Geography and the creation of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland was created in 1921 by the bifurcation of Ireland, an island in the north.
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish sea, it shares its borders with the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU.
Republic of Ireland gained independence from the British in 1922 but Northern Ireland remained a part of the United Kingdom till date.
There is still a tussle between the unionists, dup, loyal to the queen’s crown and nationalists, who support free and united Ireland and the Republicans, Sinn Fein which support the unification with Northern Ireland.
A civil war, known as the Troubles, emerged between the two sides in the late 1960s and the involvement of the British army and police made the situation more violent.
Ultimately, on April 10,1998, the Good Friday Agreement was signed to end the civil war granting Northern Ireland a unique system of governance, known as consociationalism.
What is this unique system?
After the agreement, both unionist and the nationalist share power in the parliament called Stormont in Belfast.
Both side work in coalition to function effectively in the administration of the country.
Although the sides that wins the most votes gets to appoint the First Minister and the other side will choose the appointment of the Deputy first Minister, carrying similar powers.
Paralysis of 2022
After the Brexit (UK exiting from the EU), Northern Ireland share its geographic border with an EU member, The Republic of Ireland.
This created a problem as EU and UK have different product standards and quality checks, a border check became the need of the hour but considering the violent history of the region, this border remained opened and instead a new checking system was introduced between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, this was referred to as the Northern Ireland Protocol.
This new Protocol was not accepted by the unionists as they believed it is demeaning and has undermined the status of the Northern Ireland in comparison to the other members of the Kingdom.
The Stormont stopped functioning as the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sir Jeffrey Donaldson refused to allow the formation of the government after the polls of May,2022. Thus, the Paralysis
The UK and EU then formed the new rules, known as Windsor Framework of 2023, introducing a system of green lanes and red lanes. Green lanes for the goods that will stay in Northern Ireland while Red lanes for the goods going to EU (more checks and balances).
It also included a veto by Northern Ireland and London on any regulation made by EU.
Thus, the Paralysis coming to an end by apppointment of Michelle O’ Neil with DUP returning to the table.
Tasks in hands of New government
Critical areas like security, tax, immigrations, foreign relations are still handled by the UK for Northern Ireland.
Matters like health, sanitation, social sectors and other local and regional issues fall within the jurisdiction of the newly formed government.
With O’Neill taking charge, it is expected that services affected by the paralysis will resume shortly and the administration will finally take off with the effective governance of the Northern Ireland notwithstanding the continued haze over the possibility of referendum by the Republicans this time.
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