Opinion

Deal signals a truce in hostilities but far from a permanent cessation

Sinn Féin accept the New Decade New Approach deal at Stormont. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Sinn Féin accept the New Decade New Approach deal at Stormont. Picture by Hugh Russell. Sinn Féin accept the New Decade New Approach deal at Stormont. Picture by Hugh Russell.

After three long years, five elections and lot of words spoken in anger, a cessation to hostilities has been called at Stormont.

We will once again have devolved government, but critics of the New Decade New Approach deal are already asking - for how long?

It will be a government with Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill as first and deputy first ministers, they are two politicians who in the past have not worked well together.

The body language between the pair would indicate that they have little time for each other, with very different personalities they will now need to put past animosities aside for the greater good.

Much has changed in three years, Martin McGuinness who had taken huge steps to reconcile republicans with their ancient enemies in Britain is no longer here, a steadying and strategic force in the party.

And then there are the circumstances in which the DUP and Sinn Féin appear to have been bounced before they were ready into a deal by the British and Irish governments.

Identity issues, which often take precedent over all else in Northern Ireland, faded away in the face of an NHS crisis of epic and disastrous proportions.

Flags, language and identity are diluted in importance when weighed against hospital waiting lists and a mental health crisis.

By putting the deal in the public domain Simon Coveney and Julian Smith lit a fire under the politicans' feet.

Like a game show contestants we were all shown the prizes potentially on offer.

The party responsible for rejecting it would have caused an assembly election and who would want to go to the doors and ask for votes having vetoed a cash injection for public services?

However, resilience is key and it is not yet clear whether this deal will stick.

If attitudes have significantly changed, if the current DUP and Sinn Féin leaderships can work together in the long term and if this deal is resilient enough to survive a crisis.

The deal involves pain for both parties, potentially nullified by opportunity and gains for all.

Sinn Féin took the deal to their base in west Belfast last night, many members dubious at what they see as a compromise too far.

Republicans will be on a 'watch and see' footing, yet to be convinced that the DUP can be trusted to act with mutual respect.

Arlene Foster has been accused of putting her own political career ahead of unionist best interest in compromising on Irish language.

She has weathered a fair few storms but the biggest is yet to come, the RHI inquiry will deliver its findings later this year and what impact that will have on power sharing in still an unknown.

What is clear is that the vast majority of the public want this deal to work, they want locally accountable politicians making decisions for the good of all.

This is an historic truce but the real work starts now in turning a deal that's heavy on aspiration but scant on detail into long term and sustainable government.