Missed steps to sharing power

THE British and Irish Governments’ document mapped out hour by hour and month by month a timetable of exactly who should do exactly what and when, but by the time it was published it was clear Northern Ireland had again missed the political boat.

By 6pm last night both the DUP and Sinn Féin should have confirmed their agreement to the plan.

At the same time General John de Chastelain’s decommissioning body (IICD) would have confirmed it had made fresh contact with the IRA’s representative and decommissioning would be completed by end of month.

Had all gone well, the timetable showed a flurry of activity before the end of the month during which the British Government would have announced legislative changes and emergency legislation would have been introduced to enable a Shadow Assembly.

The IICD would have announced the commencement of the decommissioning process - by the end of the month it would have reported confirmation of 100% of IRA arms having been decommissioned.

In between the two IICD statements, Northern Secretary Paul Murphy would have convened a meeting of all assembly members (MLAs), engaged in consultation with the parties and announced arrangements for an infrastructure investment seminar.

The parties would have indicated their candidates for First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

The Secretary of State, following further consultations with parties, would have announced arrangements for an independent forum on a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

The Independent Monitoring Commission would have presented an interim report.

January would see the Shadow Assembly being established and the Secretary of State arranging meetings with prospective First and Deputy First Ministers. That would have been followed by the establishment of shadow Assembly committees to consider devolution of criminal justice and policing and preparation for government including a draft ministerial code and a draft programme for government.

February would see the IMC report, the lifting of devolved government suspension by the British Government and agreement on how to devolve criminal justice and policing.

March would have seen the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and executive confirmed by the Assembly with a plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council.

At that point the draft timetable becomes less specific, talking of “early summer” for the next acts.

There would have been a plenary meeting of the British Irish Council and the British Government would have introduced legislation giving effect to devolution of criminal justice and policing.

The legislation would have come into effect “once sufficient confidence had been established” as expressed in a cross-community vote in the Assembly, proposed by the First and Deputy First Ministers.