Opinion

Tom Kelly: Public patience wearing thin as we reach the talks endgame

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly is an Irish News columnist with a background in politics and public relations. He is also a former member of the Policing Board.

Stormont has been without a powersharing government since January when the late deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned over the DUP's handling of a botched green energy scheme
Stormont has been without a powersharing government since January when the late deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned over the DUP's handling of a botched green energy scheme Stormont has been without a powersharing government since January when the late deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned over the DUP's handling of a botched green energy scheme

Former American President Jimmy Carter has transformed his reputation by becoming a sage in old age. He said that, “Unless both sides win. No agreement can be permanent.”

Nowhere has that been more true than here in Northern Ireland. The current phase of negotiations are nearing their endgame and the patience of the public is wearing thin. The two big parties claim to have made progress but not quite enough to seal any deal.

The dilemma they find themselves in is entirely of their own making. Both the DUP and Sinn Féin have ramped up their own supporters so much that it would be easier to cross the Red Sea on foot than pack away their red lines. At a guess, the talks are as close and as far apart as their starting point.

Sinn Féin is still insisting on a stand alone Irish language act. The DUP could have delivered on that a few months ago but not now. It seems we will now require something on Ulster Scots too. Northern Ireland is slowly turning into Noah’s Ark with a requirement for two of everything.

It's hard for any rational person to think that this is where our politicians are at, as despite their considerable mandates, I have never heard a single person in a bar, a doctor's waiting room or in a coffee shop discuss the need for a Ulster Scots cultural bill or an Irish language act. I have heard them talk about struggling to pay energy bills, getting a doctor's appointment or finding a nursery place for their children. People who vote for these parties should reflect on what their actual priorities are - not have them translated by their representatives.

The DUP simply can’t sell a stand alone Irish language act to their support base.

And even if the detail of any actual act was as weak as an explanation by Robin Newton on his alleged relationship with Charter NI, the only thing that DUP supporters would see is the headline concession of the Irish language act.

Sinn Féin know the limitations of where the negotiations can go and how far. Arlene Foster has shown both tenacity and leadership but there is only so far she can go without the DUP backwoodsmen making a fuss.

Someone now has to blink or in Jimmy Carter’s world – blink together.

If the big two parties are where most sensible commentators think they are, then the past few months have been a complete waste of time; because that which divides them or that which has brought them closer has not changed.

RHI, the speaker's relationship with Charter NI and the issue of Arlene Foster standing aside are all window dressing. If the Sinn Féin leadership is sincere about returning to an executive, they are not exactly sending out positive signals. Publicly some of their politicians are as keen as mustard to get back into office and certainly they still like to be feted by business organisations, which rather bizarrely treat them as if they actually were in office.

On the other hand Sinn Féin members further down the ladder of influence talk about unionists and unionist culture in disparaging terms.

Some even hope that Brexit implodes for the British government in the forlorn dream that this will bring forward some form of a yet untapped innate Irishness in unionists who will then leap willingly and joyously into a united Ireland. Yep, expect a flying pig in the vicinity if that happens.

Michelle O’Neill seems quite genuine in her efforts to reach an agreement and certainly when holding the health portfolio, she was a competent minister. We need her and others of equal competence back in office.

Ironically, progress in the current process is not being stalled by the two women leading their respective teams but by yesterday’s history boys, Gerry Adams and Sammy Wilson.

Each in their own way is a past master of zero sum politics. Adams who lost his way in the shadow of the late former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness now longingly eyes the Aras. But there’s more chance of Dustin the Turkey winning the Eurovision than Gerry Adams succeeding Michael D Higgins.

Courtesy of the Tory-DUP deal Sammy Wilson has also got a second wind after being forced to choose between the assembly and Westminster. Some of the DUP MPs have an over-inflated view of their own importance or relevance to the Tories.

Time for Arlene and Michelle to make their own music.