- Power-sharing restored in Northern Ireland
- Sunak prioritizes governance over change
- UK-Ireland relationship emphasized
Rishi Sunak was in Northern Ireland to commemorate the establishment of government in the country following the easing of trade restrictions after Brexit.
Rishi Sunak has stated that day-to-day governance is more important than “constitutional change” in Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister visited Northern Ireland to celebrate the re-establishment of power-sharing in the nation.
This followed amendments to the post-Brexit agreement, which reduced inspections on goods moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
Since 2022, the Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) opposition to the arrangement had hindered the formation of an executive.
This executive is the first since Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill became first minister; she is a nationalist.
Emma Little-Pengelly, the deputy first minister and a member of the DUP, has equal authority and responsibility as Ms. O’Neill under the Good Friday Agreement.
Strengthening Governance and Public Services
Mr. Sunak said, “This morning, I met with political leaders from Stormont and the executive in highly productive discussions. Today is of great historical and consequential significance for the nation, marking the return of Northern Ireland’s politicians to decision-making authority on behalf of their constituents, as it should be.
“Currently, our new agreement gives them unprecedented funding and authority, enabling them to deliver services to businesses and families across Northern Ireland. That is the priority for everyone at this moment.
It is not about constitutional amendment; it’s about addressing the daily concerns of the public.
The Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, was also present at Stormont today.
Following a meeting with Mr. Sunak, a Downing Street spokesperson said, “The Prime Minister began by congratulating the Ireland rugby team on their decisive victory over France in the Six Nations on Friday.”
Regarding today’s events, the Prime Minister thanked the Taoiseach for the Irish government’s support in facilitating the restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland, as requested by the UK government.
Renewed Focus on Day-to-Day Concerns
“Reaching an agreement required perseverance through this difficult period. Having restored operations to the institutions, he hoped that all three branches would function with equal efficiency. The remarkable sense of relief and optimism felt by the people of Northern Ireland made the entire effort worthwhile.
“The leaders reaffirmed their shared belief that a prosperous, successful, and stable Northern Ireland would greatly benefit the UK-Ireland relationship.” They looked forward to maintaining close and ongoing communication.
“I believe the day-to-day concerns of the people should be the top priority for any new executive in any government, in any country,” Mr. Varadkar said afterwards.
Indeed, there are long waiting lists in Northern Ireland; this issue is not unique to the region.
Regarding the economy and public sector pay, our challenges are similar to those faced by other countries. Based on what I’ve heard from the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, and executive, everyone is keen to get to work on their mandates.
He echoed Mr. Sunak’s statement, saying that the re-establishment of the executive should be the focus of today’s discussion, not “constitutional questions.”
Northern Ireland’s Future: Unity Referendum?
Ms. O’Neill said over the weekend that a referendum on Irish unification could happen within the next decade.
Mr. Sunak wrote in an article for the Belfast Telegraph this morning, “The future of Northern Ireland is now clear: devolved government within the United Kingdom for as long as the majority wants it.”
Additionally, he said, “The government will always treat constitutional nationalism and the pursuit of a united Ireland through peaceful and democratic means with respect. However, we also recognise that an increasing number of people do not define their aspirations in terms of specific traditions.”
The UK government’s “final offer” of £3.3 billion was extended to Northern Ireland to reinstate the executive.
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According to Mr. Sunak, this has been widely acknowledged for its scale and generosity.
Moreover, it aims for long-term sustainability, he added, ensuring that Northern Ireland has the financial resources it needs to provide superior public services in the future, rather than merely addressing current challenges.
Mr. Varadkar said during a meeting with Ms. O’Neill and Ms. Little-Pengelly, “It’s great that the institutions are back up and running; we want the executive to be successful and long-lasting; we are ready to help in any way we can, without interfering; and we are keen to see the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council back in operation as soon as possible.”
