Mr Jeffrey Donaldson has recognised the logic of his position and departed the Ulster Unionist Party. For five years, he fomented internal dissent against the Belfast Agreement and made numerous attempts to overthrow his party leader, Mr David Trimble. He failed. Rather than wait to be expelled, Mr Donaldson is to join the negotiating team of the Democratic Unionist Party.
The Irish and British Governments have stated their desire to conduct a short, sharp and focused review of the Belfast Agreement, beginning in January. And while the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister have insisted there can be no re-negotiation of the fundamentals of the Agreement, they are prepared to consider change in the way it operates, provided it is done by consensus.
Such a position is unlikely to satisfy the DUP following its success in the Assembly elections. The party leader, Dr Ian Paisley, was quite unequivocal at Downing Street during the week, when he said there were no circumstances in which the DUP would enter into government with Sinn Féin, so long as the IRA remained an armed, paramilitary force. At the same time, his deputy, Mr Peter Robinson, said they had proposals that could provide stable government in Northern Ireland and a peaceful future.
Mr Donaldson has held out the prospect of Dr Paisley and Mr Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin striking a deal acceptable to both unionists and nationalists. Nobody should hold their breath.
Attempts, over the past year, to make progress by concentrating on the Ulster Unionist Party and on Sinn Féin have resulted in a considerable weakening of the middle ground in Northern politics. Switching official attention to the DUP and Sinn Féin at this stage could bolster the political extremes. The strength of the Belfast Agreement lies in the principle of inclusion that underpins it and in the political requirement for consensus. Those elements must be given full weight in the discussions that lie ahead.
The SDLP and its leader, Mr Mark Durkan, are anxious that the pro-Agreement parties should co-operate in advance of any review and clarify their thinking on what is required to provide stable and lasting government. That will involve addressing issues such as "acts of completion", human rights, equality and suspension of the institutions.
Mr Adams has reverted to the tactic of blaming the British government for suspending the institutions. But it was the IRA that failed, on two occasions, to provide the clarity of intent and the "acts of completion" that would have re-established an Executive, ended devolved government and created trust with the Ulster Unionist Party.
The IRA refuses to end all activities and dispose of its weapons. The DUP wants to smash the Belfast Agreement. Those positions may eventually change. In the meantime, the path of consensus and inclusivity that led to the Belfast Agreement should be followed.