“In order to overturn the current state of affairs, both north and south, advocates for change must be ready for these challenges. The coming year will not be an easy one. But genuine change never is.”
By Joe Dwyer
As Enver Hoxha famously stated in his 1967 New Year’s address, “This year will be harder than last year. On the other hand, it will be easier than next year.”
In an Irish context, the year that lies ahead certainly presents many challenges and uncertainties. But equally so, it presents significant opportunity and possibility.
The year behind us will best be remembered as a year of political frustration, both north and south.
In the South, it is increasingly clear that the patchwork Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil/Green government has run out of road. Bereft of strategy and vision, they are now slow waltzing to the next election, expected in the Autumn.
Having entirely failed to meet the needs of workers and families; they now stand motionless. Seemingly, incapable of addressing the high cost of living, unable to tackle spiralling waiting lists, powerless to actually deliver affordable housing, and unwilling to respond to the mounting climate crisis.
In place of dynamic delivery or a bold vision, the ruling parties have occupied themselves by primarily discussing the one shared interest that unites their common endeavour, namely: stopping a Sinn Féin-led government.
Meanwhile in the North, politics has stood equally frozen. Albeit as a consequence of very deliberate and calculated abjuration by the Democratic Unionist Party.
Since February 2022, the DUP have held the political institutions in the North to ransom. By exiting the Executive and sitting outside, they have abjectly washed their hands of the responsibilities and duties of elected representatives. They have turned their backs on the needs of ordinary people at a time of rising costs and wage stagnation.
For nineteen months, they have blocked Michelle O’Neill from taking up her rightful position as First Minister in the North and have halted local decision making. Instead, they have handed matters wholesale over to a negligent and reckless British government.
Teachers, health workers, transport workers and civil servants are being forced to take to the streets, in the depths of a cold winter, in search of a deal for fair pay, which they are now being denied as a result of the DUP’s continued refusal to form a government and work with the other parties.
Sinn Féin stands ready, and has stood ready throughout, to form an Executive and to work with other local parties. This year will demand a final decision from the DUP. They need to decide; do they want to share power or not? Do they want local politics to deliver or not?
Public patience has worn thin and there needs to be a step-change in 2024. Michelle O’Neill should be behind her desk and serving as a First Minister for all. That is what the people voted for. It is long past time to respect democracy and embrace power-sharing.
If the political institutions aren’t restored by 18 January, then the onus falls on the British government to either call another Assembly election or – in conjunction with the Irish government – to chart an alternative way forward.
This remains the primary challenge in the North in 2024. The possibility of an Assembly election, combined with the certainty of a Westminster election, provide crucial opportunities to advance progressive, forward-looking politics.
In the South, a similar chance will come in June with the Local and European elections. These will be the first tests for Sinn Féin in anticipation of an expected autumn general election in the Irish State.
In order to overturn the current state of affairs, both north and south, advocates for change must be ready for these challenges. The coming year will not be an easy one. But genuine change never is.
This year has the potential to be a truly transformative milestone in the history of our island. There is no promise that things will change but, if it is to happen, 2024 could prove to be a turning-point.
So, let us look ahead to 2025 and consider that we might see a newly elected Sinn Féin-led government in the South and a restored power-sharing executive in the North. For the first time since partition, we could see Sinn Féin in government both North and South. A seismic achievement if ever there was one.
Undoubtedly, things will get a lot harder before they get easier. But Irish republicans are used to hard struggle and overcoming adversity. In a year’s time, let us look back on 2024 as a year when the people of Ireland took a step forward together. A step closer towards a new Ireland that is equal, free, and united.
- Joe Dwyer is a Political Organiser for Sinn Fein, you can follow him on Twitter here.
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