The long and winding road

There is a good possibility that the present efforts that are underway can lead to a proper settlement of the problems in Northern Ireland. However, since it is far from a foregone conclusion that everything will fall nicely into place, now might be a good time to examine the difficulties that exist.

(1)If efforts to find a settlement that has the support of a majority of the people in both of the main traditions in N.Ireland/Ireland are successful it will mean the resolution of a problem whose roots are over 800 years old .No one should expect that this can be achieved easily.

(2)While publically stating that what is necessary is to go back to the negotiating table and draw up a new set of relationships between N.Ireland , the Republic of Ireland and Britain which have general acceptance in both of the main communities might provoke great protest in some quarters , this is in fact what must happen , if this problem is to be solved. This does not mean an inevitable United Ireland against the wishes of a majority of the protestant population or a maintenance of the status quo against the wishes of a majority of the catholic population - any attempt at a settlement will inevitably break down unless it has the support of a majority in BOTH of the main communities.

(3)While suspicion on all sides is totally understandable , nevertheless all sides have to explore the POSSIBILITY (if the present efforts are to have any hope of success)that the other parties are genuine about reaching an agreement that has the support of a majority of the people in BOTH of the main communities.

(4)At this point it is necessary for ALL parties to get serious about finding a proper settlement(or rather those that are not totally serious at present).If , as some claim, the IRA are still at the game of using violence and the threat of violence to squeeze further concessions and indeed will settle for nothing less than a train of events being set in motion which will lead inevitably to a united Ireland then this will eventually become clear and any possibility of peace will eventually totally disappear. Equally , if the British Government and the Unionist parties/paramilitaries are trying to con nationalists in to a situation where everything essentially remains the same apart from cosmetic changes then this too will eventually become clear and the violence will start up worse than ever once more. Possibly the time of gamesman-ship and brinkmanship is past and it is time for all parties to get down to it and sort it out.

(5)These coming months could be very tense and possibly now as much as ever politicians will need to keep cool and clear heads and keep the long term objectives in mind.

(6)Making this peace will be like putting together a jigsaw - it will not happen unless all the parties are prepared not only to put their piece of the jigsaw on the table but actually push it into its proper position.

(7) Both communities should try to remain coherent and present a united front in seeking a reasonable settlement and should also coherently work for such a settlement.. It will be very dangerous if either community splinters into factions for and against any possible settlement.

(8)In conclusion, what will help the chances of success of the present efforts more than anything else is a genuine acceptance of the need for a settlement that has the support of a majority of the people in both of the main traditions and genuine attempts by ALL sides to find such a settlement.

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Note: All pf these Cothrom pages that relate to Northern Ireland were originally created at the end of the '90's/early 00's.