HE corporate blockade where to find North Ireland remains far from resolved two years after his departure Democratic Union Party (DUP) Government. London’s repeated attempts to ensure the normal functioning of the Belfast Parliament (Stormont) have so far fallen on deaf ears. political and economic situation is increasing in the country worrying. Protests by thousands of public employees this week have further increased the pressure on unionists, who continue to favor unionists. block In response to agreements reached between the British Government and the European Union to ensure that there is no physical border between the two Irelands.
DUP MPs They blocked the appointment of the Speaker of Parliament once again this week, even though the government’s deadline in London expired on Thursday. Unionists insist on signing the contract Northern Ireland Protocol and the later Windsor Framework, which aimed to establish controls on goods across the Irish Sea for goods destined only for the EU, are unacceptable because I’m not providing enough clarity Relating to the protection of Northern Ireland in the UK internal market. DUP unionists left the Belfast Government in protest in February 2022, causing the government to disband; This situation continues today despite the mobilization of citizens.
Low minimum services
British Minister for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-HarrisHe announced that he would seek a “pragmatic, adequate and limited” way to respond to this blockade, but for now he refused to take full authority over the country and call elections. Options London is considering include: provide greater flexibility to authorities making decisions regarding expenditure in the absence of a regional government and thus stop protests An increasing number of public workers, including teachers and nurses, frozen salaries Due to the blockade by the Stormont Government and Parliament.
Main unions this week unveiled one of the biggest unions demonstrations your last years. Almost 150,000 workers They gathered on the streets of Belfast and major cities this Thursday to condemn the deterioration of public services such as education and health and to demand improvements. return to institutional normality. “[La manifestación de] today is just the beginning. If we cannot achieve social and economic justice, the struggle will continue. Today it is a general strike of the public sector, but tomorrow there will be a general strike of all workers,” warned the general secretary of the Nipsa union this Thursday. Patrick Mulholland.
“Political blackmail”
The British Government offered 3.3 billion lira (€3.8bn) Public servants in Northern Ireland favored pay rise, but insisted I will only give the money if it ends institutional blockade. “I continue to believe that a fully functioning Northern Ireland Executive is the most appropriate option to take action quickly and effectively to resolve these issues,” Heaton-Harris said in a statement this week. said. A situation that seems unlikely, at least for now. The victory of the Sinn Féin Republicans in the recent regional elections has put on the table further reasons for unionists to avoid taking the stand, despite the fact that power in Belfast is shared between the two groups. Good Friday agreements.
DUP Deputy Leader Gavin RobinsonHe described the British Government’s offer as “an act of extreme cruelty”. political blackmail“and reminded that his party’s main priority is to respond to unionists’ concerns about Brexit trade deals. The party, which met with its executive board this Friday to analyze the situation, insisted it needed those deals. legal guarantees Although there are agreements protecting Northern Ireland in the UK’s internal market, more and more voices are betting on reaching a deal with London as soon as possible. end the corporate blockade This is stifling Northern Irish workers and weakening public services.