The recent scandal involving Peter Robinson, First Minister of Northern Ireland is the latest setback as the troubles of the people of Northern Ireland continue. Despite Mr Robinson’s political will, mounting pressure has forced him to step down and hand control over to Enterprise leader, Arlene Foster, MLA while he endeavours to prove his innocence.
Mr Robinson’s fervent assurances to the people of Northern Ireland on Wednesday, January 6th did little to quell the questionability of his integrity. He stated;
“I want to assure the wider community that I have at all times sought to carry out my public duties diligently, and I will continue to discharge those responsibilities without allowing, as far as lies within me, my personal hurt to limit my endeavours.”
This very public fall from grace may signal an end for his political career. For months, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has been struggling to deal with the increasing pressure for devolution in a highly-charged political atmosphere at Stormont. However, when Foster temporarily took over the role of First Minister she was at pains to stress that, “Peter hasn’t left the scene, he is still the leader of the party, very clearly, and he is still the First Minister”.
At the centre of the extraordinary allegations is the accusation that when Mr Robinson found out about the illegal transactions between his wife and her lover, he did not tell the proper authorities, despite being bound by the ministerial code to act in the public interest at all times. In the aftermath, a number of investigations have been launched by Castlereagh Borough Council and the General Assembly’s ethics watchdog. The cross-party Standards and Privileges Committee could also order a full probe.
In response to questions posed to him over the programme “Spotlight”, which revealed to the nation Mrs Robinson’s affair, her husband said that he was shocked by many of the financial issues which he had not heard before. The First Minister insists that he had no knowledge of the financial arrangements and accused the press of seeking to “smear by association”.
Reaction has been mixed amongst the political parties, but most have expressed their support for the Robinson family with Taoiseach, Brian Cowen stating;
“ I want to pass on my best wishes to Peter Robinson and his family as they deal with very difficult personal issues at this time.”
But in the midst of this scandal, political opponents and government leaders have decided to concentrate on the looming crisis of devolution.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, appealed to the provinces’ politicians to concentrate on resolving the outstanding political issues facing them. He said, “I urge all politicians in Northern Ireland, whatever the turbulence of recent events, to remain focused on the business of government.”
The political fall-out of this public embarrassment has enormous implications. It is becoming increasingly clearer that public confidence is falling not only in Mr Robinson, but in the capability of Northern Ireland’s politicians to continue to make progress with devolution.
The DUP and Sinn Fein have spent the last few months bickering in a deadlock that is threatening the establishment of peace in Northern Ireland. The parties have failed to provide a timetable for the devolution of policing and justice.
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Sir Reg Empey said,
“The prospect of a plethora of inquiries going on for months, distracting the First Minister and leaving Stormont in a powerless state, cannot be contemplated”.
Foster responded by stating that she is hopeful that a breakthrough is within reach but insisted that, “it must come to a Northern Ireland that is stable and durable so that we can do it for the people of Northern Ireland.”
Indeed there has been a noticeable intensification of talks in the last week and it seems that the DUP’s internal problems have spawned a new realism. Whether or not the public’s confidence in its politicians are waning, the DUP and Sinn Fein are both still anxious to express their commitment to resolving what Mrs Foster calls “the last piece of the jigsaw”.
An ever-present thorn in Mr Robinson’s side, DUP MP Gregory Campbell said that the community still did not have enough confidence to devolve the powers to Stormont. He stated; “It doesn’t matter how many first ministers come and go, it doesn’t matter how many scandals there are or aren’t, that remains the issue.”
The consequences of a further breakdown in talks would spell disaster for everyone involved and perhaps the collapse of the power-sharing government. With each party having recently been involved in scandal, hopefuls have speculated that perhaps a new understanding between the DUP and Sinn Fein might arise. SDLP leader, Mark Durkan said; “It seems to the SDLP that a humbler DUP has now found a clearer perspective on the devolution of justice and policing.”
What appears more likely is that each party will realise what is at stake, and look to the future in an attempt to forget the past. It remains to be seen how this new sense of urgency will re-energise the parties in what is sure to be a make or break era of political uncertainty for Northern Ireland.
The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister met in London on Thursday, January 14th for discussion on the affairs of Northern Ireland and issued a joint statement saying that the two governments do not contemplate failure in the current negotiations.
