Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/480/2226
From The Socialist newspaper, 29 March 2007
Northern Ireland
Will the new agreement last?
THE MEDIA had pictures on 26 March of 'old enemies' Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein reaching an agreement to return power sharing to the Northern Ireland Assembly from 8 May.
The agreement was not friendly enough to allow them to shake hands. Paisley, Adams and the rest of the politicians had their minds concentrated, however, by the threat to suspend the Assembly (and their parliamentary incomes) if no agreement was reached before the 26 March deadline.
Few people have any hope of long-term success for this Assembly. The elections in March reflected the present sectarian divides of Northern Irish society. The coalition which may emerge after 8 May would be dominated by Paisley as first minister and Martin McGuiness of Sinn Fein as deputy.
An article in a future issue of the socialist will take up such questions as: Will the agreement last? Will there be splits on issues such as policing? What kind of social policy will this Assembly come up with - will it be more of the right-wing policies of cuts and privatisation that the DUP, Sinn Fein and other capitalist parties have eagerly embraced?
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In The Socialist 29 March 2007:
Council workers fight pay cut scandal
Council unions reject 2% pay offer
Fighting cuts and privatisation
Socialist Party NHS campaign
What we think
A simple conclusion from a 'simplification' budget
Socialist Party news and analysis
Tenants defeat housing sell-off
Universities fail to accept state school pupils
London Olympics: Big business bonanza - and we pay
Socialist Party election campaign
For the millions, not the millionaires
Socialist Party feature
Edinburgh postal workers fight back
Workers' fightback to defend postal services
Northern Ireland agreement
We Won't Pay anti-water charges demo 31 March
International socialist news and analysis
Turkish state attacks Kurdish protestors
Socialist Party workplace news
Airbus walkout - joint action needed across Europe
Determined campaigners win reprieve
Manchester Unity Stewards and activists group
Hants library workers fight cuts
Sacked electricians win tribunal ruling
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