Sinn Féin is now facing disruption from the unionists over the formation of the government and the Northern Ireland (NI) protocol. The supporters of Unionists in the UK, along with the London government, threaten peace in Northern Ireland. They are encouraging the Northern Ireland assembly collapse. They threaten peace in Northern Ireland to achieve their demands from the European Union in the Northern Ireland Protocol and Brexit.
Sinn Fein: largest party in Stormont Assembly
Sky News: Sinn Fein has been voted the largest party in the Stormont Assembly. It’s the first time a nationalist party has held that position. There are big questions about whether the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) will accept a power-sharing agreement.
Power sharing in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland assembly collapse will happen if DUP does not participate in the Power-sharing Government. As Sky News says, there must be representatives from both nationalist parties and unionists in the Power-sharing Government. Nationalist parties want Irish unity, and unionists wish Northern Ireland remained part of the UK. The Northern Ireland Executive is made up of the first and deputy first ministers and their cabinet. One of the top jobs at Stormont (the parliament buildings) must be unionist and one nationalist, with equal powers. One cannot be in position without the other. So, when the DUP’s Paul Givan resigned as First Minister in February, Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill also had to step down.
Why is there power sharing in Northern Ireland?
According to Sky News, Northern Ireland came into existence in 1921. The Troubles, which started in the late 1960s, saw violence erupt between the minority Catholics and the majority Protestants. Catholics wanted to leave the UK, and Protestants wanted to remain part of the UK. In 1998 Tony Blair’s Cabinet signed the Good Friday Agreement (or Belfast Agreement). The agreement ended the Troubles and established the legislature Northern Ireland has today. Power sharing was chosen as the method of governance so that there is fair representation from both unionist and nationalist parties.
Northern Ireland assembly collapse
The DUP and Westminster are using the “Northern Ireland assembly collapse” as a tool to make their desired changes in the NI protocol. As Bloomberg says Northern Ireland Government is on Hold as Protocol Deadlock Remains. The DUP won’t participate in Government until the Brexit issue is resolved. Failure to elect a speaker means no executive can be formed. Northern Ireland’s Government remains suspended after a move to elect speakers to the Assembly failed amid a stand-off over Brexit.
According to ABI, the DUP claims that the NI Protocol threatens Northern Ireland’s place within the union. The DUP may demand more decisive action on the NI Protocol before entering an Executive. They may even choose not to enter an Executive at all. As Politics Home says, the DUP argues that the Protocol undermines Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and in the union itself.
Northern Ireland protocol
As Nidirect says, the EU and UK agreed on the NI Protocol. According to the Protocol, there would be no new checks on goods crossing the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. As a result of the Protocol, Northern Ireland has, in effect, remained in the EU’s single market for goods. England, Scotland and Wales have left the EU’s single market for goods. This allows goods to flow to and from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the EU. There will be no customs checks, tariffs, or new paperwork.
As Brexit (An Irish Guide) says, the NI Protocol aims to avoid customs tariffs, customs declarations, and customs controls in trade between Northern Ireland and the EU, particularly the Republic of Ireland. However, it necessitates checks and customs controls on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
As GOV.UK says, the Government has identified the range of issues caused by the NI Protocol. These include trade disruption and diversion, high costs, and bureaucracy for traders. People in Northern Ireland do not benefit fully from the same advantages as the rest of the UK. There is a deep concern that the NI protocol undermines the links between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is a proposed Act of the Parliament of the UK. It seeks to override parts of the NI Protocol unilaterally. According to the Guardian, the bill gives ministers powers to introduce new laws to undo Brexit arrangements. It has fuelled sharp criticism both in the Commons and the Lords. As the UK Parliament says, members of the Lords start their detailed check of the NI Protocol Bill in the committee stage. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill will provide the basis to amend the NI Protocol in UK domestic law.
Final remark
The DUP leader has said that the incoming Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must deal with Brexit’s NI Protocol “once and for all” if he wants Stormont restored. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has added, “The Protocol is incompatible with the restoration of devolved Government in Northern Ireland (Belfast Live). As it is clear from the DUP leader’s words, the DUP is using the “Northern Ireland assembly collapse” as a tool to change the NI protocol.
The NI Protocol regulates trade and prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland. It upholds the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, which is instrumental in securing peace (Federal Foreign Office). Therefore, making changes in the NI protocol can threaten peace and stability in Northern Ireland.
