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Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Orange Standard

Perverse Effects Of Direct Rule

Article 2 ~ February 2006

However much we rejoiced at Christmas and wished each other a Happy New Year the political situation here was, and remains, exceeding unsatisfactory. The treatment of Northern Ireland by the Direct Rule Secretary of State, Peter Hain, and the ministers of the Northern Ireland Office has been condemned, and from many sources. There is no end to the problems readily recognisable to all of us. They include the Assembly and its future; the controversies over water, hospitals and education; and the determination of the ministers to do what the Government sees as the essential to devolved Government, a DUP and Sinn Fein sharing in that administration. Unionists are not ready to take that step until they have reason to know that Sinn Fein has met the demands on it for the total rejection of violence and all criminal activity associated with it; accepted the PSNI, as the law-keepers of Northern Ireland, and honoured its commitment to a truly peaceful society. There can be no progress until there is trust that republicans are no longer using the devious means which have gained for them so many concessions from a most accommodating Tony Blair and Peter Hain. There are so many unresolved problems facing the country that the future is far from promising, though we retain the capacity to hope, for there is evidence that Government attitudes can be changed under pressures from parties here, the Tories and Liberal Democrats, and that is being made apparent in the new and better thinking on-the-runs legislation. We emphasise again our thinking on Direct Rule as being the wrong way to govern here, and we want an agreeable, acceptable and proper devolved administration. We commend every effort being made by our politicians to attain that end. The changes in education and local government, which are anticipated, are going to affect the lives of many people. The expectations of forced redundancies and unemployment for those affected by new situations, is a fearsome prospect for society as a whole. We are aware of the fact that the present position in local government is not sustainable for reasons that need no spelling out. Our concern is that what has been planned by government and agreed by Sinn Fein is too drastic. Local councils need to be sized more in keeping with the needs of the people so as to guarantee adequate representation everywhere. The fact is that the present size and cost of many public bodies is adversely affecting the economy of the country. When money goes in one direction it can not go in another. And the need for a better spread of the resources available to us compels redirection of the money available for our use. We must have better balance in what we do and future plans must show better stewardship than we have had until now. To say this is not to deny that many good things are happening here. The evidence of achievement and success are obvious in what is to be seen before our very eyes. That means we have the potentials to make this the good country we want it to be. It is essential to think positively, in spite of the negatives, at such a time as this.

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