Let’s try to put the horse in front of the Belfast cart

THE Northern political parties have been given until November to resolve their differences in the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

It would appear that the prospects for success are being deliberately downplayed so as not to raise public hopes too high and thereby place inordinate pressure on the participants.

The DUP are making the issue of republican criminality a sticking point. They see this as the main obstacle in the way of government in the North. Irrespective of the validity of their concerns, others will see their stance as somewhat akin to cutting off the nose to spite the face.