KAREN BRADLEY: MY BILL IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR NI
SECRETARY OF STATE WRITES EXCLUSIVELY FIANNA FAIL TURMOIL OVER NI POLL CANDIDATE
This time 25 years ago, Northern Ireland was in the midst of one of its most frightening and dangerous periods of the Troubles. The horrific Shankill bombing had sparked off a spate of killings, including the brutal Greysteel massacre. It was difficult to see how Northern Ireland could ever emerge from the darkness and fear that engulfed all of our communities.
We cannot ever forget those who lost their lives and were injured at that time, and the families whose lives would never be the same again — as well as the thousands of others who suffered throughout our troubled past.
But we have to take hope that we did emerge from it. The 1998 Belfast Agreement was secured within five years and that resulted in the remarkable transformation of Northern Ireland in the 20 years since.
Employment is now at record levels, the highly talented and educated workforce is attracting serious foreign direct investment, and some of the world’s biggest television programmes and movies are made here.
And despite the difficulties and uncertainties that surround us, it continues to thrive.
But we must be honest, and say for this rate of progress and success to continue, it is vital we get the Stormont institutions restored. We need locally elected politicians taking local decisions that impact on the lives of local people.
Northern Ireland needs all the functioning political institutions of the Belfast Agreement and its successors. The only sustainable way forward lies in stable and inclusive devolved government.
That is why on Wednesday, I brought forward a Bill which takes an important step towards our goal of restoring the devolved power sharing Executive and Assembly. The UK Government remains completely and unequiv- ocally committed to this goal. The main purpose of the Bill is to provide for a fixed period in which an Executive can be formedatanytime.
It provides us with the time and space to continue our engagement with the political parties in Northern Ireland and with the Irish Government, where appropriate, to renew the talks process towards the shared aim of restoring devolved government at the earliest opportunity.
It is widely recognised that an election would not be helpful at this time. The Bill enables me to remove the current legal requirement to call an election for a period of five months.
But I will not be waiting until March to bring the parties together. I will meet party leaders as soon as possible to discuss the basis and process for further talks.
But we need commitment and willingness from the political parties and from others. In that vein, I wish to commend church leaders, who I met earlier this month, who are making a concerted effort to improve political dialogue and had a successful meeting with party leaders recently. I welcome all efforts in this regard.
We also need to ensure the good governance of Northern Ireland during this period. The Bill also provides the Northern Ireland departments with the certainty and clarity they need to continue to deliver public services during this fixed period.
It is also vital that we make it clear this does not give civil servants any new powers.
Rather, it gives clarity on how they exercise their existing powers in the absence of ministers. And I will provide supporting guidance which provides a framework for decision-making for Northern Ireland departments when they have to make judgements on how those powers should be used in the absence of ministers.
The current impasse is difficult. But when you think about the horrific events 25 years ago, it is clear that the people of Northern Ireland and their representatives have the resilience, the imagination and the will to overcome the current challenges.
Northern Ireland has made huge progress in the intervening period. But we can achieve even more with a devolved government that unlocks all of the potential Northern Ireland has to offer.
I look forward to the Bill passing through the House of Lords next week. I genuinely believe it will mark a significant step forward towards the best and only solution for all of the people of Northern Ireland.