(30 Jan 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Belfast, UK - 30 January 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Kate Hayward, professor of political sociology at Queen's University Belfast:
"Jeffrey Donaldson, thought that the time was running out like this was his opportunity he had to jump. And, I will be curious to see the legislation that comes forward, but we know there's a package of things. But those, that package has been around for some time, before Christmas. I don't think there was anything much more that had been secured. Although, I heard today the Tánaiste (the deputy head of the government in Ireland)on (Irish channel) RTE was saying that the Commission was aware of what had been agreed. Sorry, he said the Commission is comfortable with what's been agreed. So they've obviously approached the EU. So maybe that made a difference as well. Not that the EU would have made any changes, but just that the EU's comfortable with it. So that approval made a difference. But essentially I think he just thought it was the end of the road."
++BLACK FRAMES++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Kate Hayward, professor of political sociology at Queen's University Belfast:
I think it has been very significant. It is a bitter pill for unionism to swallow. And even when we look at public opinion, we see among soft unionists, DUP supporters, substantial proportion of them are also wary of going back in when you have a Sinn Fein First Minister. I mean, it's hugely significant in symbolic terms, if not in practical terms, because it's a joint position. And it will be quite some moment to see Michelle O'Neill there as First Minister. And it will be noted as such by nationalists in particular. So, but, and I think, you know, sort of international headlines about that, you know, first time you have a Sinn Fein First Minister are the kind of headlines that that you've been dreading."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Northern Ireland’s largest British unionist party agreed Tuesday to end a boycott that left the region’s people without a power-sharing administration for two years and rattled the foundations of the 25-year-old peace.

The breakthrough could see the shuttered Belfast government restored within days — with Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein holding the post of first minister for the first time.

After a marathon late-night meeting, Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson said the party’s executive had backed proposals to return to the government.

The breakthrough after months of inconclusive negotiations came after the U.K. government last week gave Northern Ireland politicians until Feb. 8 to restore the Northern Ireland Assembly and the local government or face new elections.

The DUP walked out in February 2022 in a dispute over post-Brexit trade rules.

Ever since, it has refused to return to the government with the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein.

Under power-sharing rules established as part of Northern Ireland’s peace process, the administration must include both British unionists and Irish nationalists.

The walkout left Northern Ireland’s 1.9 million people without a functioning administration to make key decisions as the cost of living soared and backlogs strained the creaking public health system.

Amid mounting public frustration, teachers, nurses and other public sector workers staged a 24-hour strike this month calling on politicians to return to the government and give them a long-delayed pay raise.



“Jeffrey Donaldson thought that the time was running out," she said. "This was his opportunity, he had to jump."









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