PUBLIC CONFIDENCE is a vital element in dealing with major social challenges, be they economic or political events. And that commodity is being frittered away in Northern Ireland by the leaders of an Executive that is failing to function as intended, because of political inflexibility and sheer bloody-mindedness. It is now nearly five months since the last meeting of the Executive. And the longer the impasse continues, the greater the threat it will pose to democracy and the rule of law.
The transfer of policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland is, paradoxically, the source of greatest dissent. The Democratic Unionist Party claims the electorate is not ready for it, in spite of contradictory opinion poll findings, while Sinn Féin insists it was part of a deal done with the Irish and British governments. At the same time, PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has warned the stand-off is creating a dangerous climate for his officers. And the International Monitoring Commission (IMC) reports that dissident republicans are exploiting the situation to recruit new members. There could hardly be more compelling reasons for negotiating a political compromise.
A framework for agreement is already there. Three months ago, the DUP and Sinn Féin agreed there should be a combined policing and justice department, run by a single minister who would not be drawn from either of their parties. A review committee at Stormont is preparing a report on how this might be achieved. It will meet with both Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness next week in closed session. That occasion represents an important opportunity to move things forward. Too much political capital has been invested by both sides in saying "No".
The suggestion by the IMC that the transfer of justice and policing powers should be treated as an opportunity, rather than a problem, makes sense. It would allow the Assembly and the Executive to be creative in bringing about a closer integration of law enforcement and other public services in Northern Ireland as circumstances demanded. That way, all parties would gain. As things stand, the main beneficiaries of the impasse are Jim Allister's Traditional Unionist Voice party, which offers its members a way back to the past, and dissident republicans who are intent on murdering policemen. These people represent the extreme fringes of Northern life. And they must be denied the oxygen that becomes available when political leaders fail to accept their responsibilities. Here in the Republic, the discovery of what may be the remains of a Provisional IRA victim has reignited the pain of families of the "disappeared" and exposed the savage cruelties of the past.
Failure by the Executive to meet is damaging democracy. The public, which had grown weary of direct rule from Westminster, is reassessing the situation as a mountain of documents involving domestic economic and social matters, awaits decision. This stand-off represents a no-win situation for Sinn Féin and the DUP. It is time to move on.