Q&A: power sharing at Stormont

Last Modified: 25 Mar 2007
By: Channel 4 News

Monday 26 March is the deadline for parties to nominate a power sharing executive in Northern Ireland.

How does power sharing work?

The 108 members of the Northern Ireland assembly, based at Stormont, have been summoned to meet tomorrow in order to nominate a power sharing executive.

The assembly speaker will ask the Reverend Ian Paisely, leader of the Democratic Unionists, to propose himself as first minister; Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams will be asked to nominate Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister.

Then the parties in the assembly (DUP, Sinn Fein, Ulster Unionists and the SDLP) will choose 10 other ministerial posts. The DUP will have four ministries, Sinn Fein will have three, the Ulster Unionists two and the SDLP one.

The 10 ministerial posts are from the departments of finance, economy, health, education, regional development, social development, agriculture, culture and sports, environment, and employment and learning.

What is the background to the present situation?

The Northern Ireland assembly is founded on the principle of power sharing. It was established under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

The assembly has been suspended on several occasions as a result of a breakdown in relations between unionists (The Ulster Unionists and the Democratic Unionist Party) and nationalists (Sinn Fein).

The last suspension was in October 2002, after allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont. The assembly was subsequently dissolved in April 2003 and new elections held in November 2003.

Those elected in the 2003 elections were called together in May 2006 to meet in an assembly to elect a first minister and deputy first minister. However, DUP leader the Reverend Ian Paisley refused Sinn Fein's nomination to be first minister, and the assembly was subsequently disbanded.

On 7 March 2007 there were elections to the suspended Northern Ireland Assembly, with a view to the restoration of devolution by 26 March.

What can the DUP gain from a six-week delay?

The Democratic Unionists say there are still issues to be resolved before they can commit themselves to power sharing.

For example, the DUP wants greater clarity from Sinn Fein about its attitude towards the police. And it wants Gordon Brown to produce more funds for the devolved executive.

Ian Paisley has said his party is holding out for a deal to deliver stable and enduring government, with all ministers, including Sinn Fein's, fully committed to the rule of law.

There are also concerns at this stage about Ian Paisley's ability to persuade his more reluctant party colleagues that it is time to go into government with Sinn Fein.

The six-week delay is undoubtedly a risky policy. Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has already accused the party of seeking to "frustrate the will of the electorate".

What happens if there is no power sharing deal?

There will be political and economic consequences.

The Northern Ireland secretary, Peter Hain, has been unequivocal about the inevitability of Stormont's dissolution if no power sharing agreement is reached - though he has also conceded that if the parties involved can reach an interim alternative agreement, then he would consider accepting it.

If dissolution does take place, Northern Ireland faces prolonged rule from Westminster and enhanced partnership arrangements with the Irish Republic. What is more, Stormont assembly members will no longer receive salaries.

Economically, failure to agree on power sharing could see the British government pressing ahead with plans to introduce water charges in the province from 1 April (if an executive is formed on Monday, it will be able to avail itself of £70 million from the Treasury to defer the charges).

And only if an agreement is reached will Northern Ireland be able to enjoy an economic package offered by the chancellor, Gordon Brown, to provide an extra £51 billion over the next 10 years.