• Come on Sinn Fein, time to be your own party

    In my mind, there is a simple reason why the DUP and Sinn Fein have failed so miserably in their attempts to reach a consensus over the years; neither side is actually trying to find one. Since both parties came to a majority in their respective communities they have fought long and hard to balance and re-balance the onus of blame in anticipation of the inevitable – the collapse of negotiations.

    The sad reality is that neither party has had the time to actually think about what conditions they’re willing to accept because they’ve been too busy ensuring that the game ends with the others holding the ball. As a result of this neither party really knows what to do when an agreement seems likely; a reality we have found ourselves in in recent days.

    In his new year address, Ian Paisley reminded us that actions speak louder than words; thus ensuring that if/when he walks away he can still [try to] blame Sinn Fein. Gerry Adams promised a special Ard Fheis as long as they got a positive response from the other parties; ensuring that he can call the whole thing off and [try to] blame the DUP for it.

    And now the Ard Fheis is indeed in jeopardy because the soundings from Ian Paisley haven’t been positive enough; possibly the most childish moment we’ve seen in Irish politics this side of the millennium (if not ever). Sinn Fein, a party that overtly aims to do things for “ourselves”, almost seems to be looking for reasurances from the other side that they’re doing a good enough job before they actually do anything. It seems ludicrous that any party should hinge such a massive decision on the reaction of the opposing side, thus putting the DUP in charge of the tempo of play just at the moment when Sinn Fein should be calling the shots.
    Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t help but get a disturbing visual of little Gerry running into daddy Ian with some scrawled picture that he cobbled together in a vain attempt to make his cold-hearted father proud.

    I never thought I’d say this, but maybe Sinn Fein should stop being so self-conscious and start trusting their instincts. After the Ard Chomhairle’s decision, Adams rambled on about how he was now willing to recommend the recognition of the PSNI to his party as this was the right move towards a United Ireland, and yet he doesn’t seem to be so sure of himself now that the DUP have borne a frown.

    The reality is that it’s time for Sinn Fein to borrow somewhat from their offspring at Fianna Fail and become soldiers of their own destiny.

    (Oh, and just to sweeten the deal for them; if Sinn Fein do accept the PSNI & Gardaí (and do all that’s entailed in making this move) and the DUP still refuse to play along, then no-one will be able to point fingers at Adams & Co. when a devolved government is blown out of the water once again.)