NI Politics 2024: Strikes, elections and an agreement with Stormont?

Although Northern Ireland did not have a power-sharing government throughout 2023, there were still plenty of memorable political moments.

And 2024 looks set to bring even more twists and turns for Stormont politics.

Will the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) end its boycott of devolution? Or could the stalemate continue until voters head to the polls in the Westminster election?

Here we take a look at the key areas to focus on in 2024.

The party has been protesting post-Brexit trade checks between Northern Ireland and the UK.

It believes that an agreement under the Northern Ireland Protocol would reduce the region’s position in the UK domestic market.

A new agreement, known as the Windsor Framework, was agreed between the UK government and the European Union in 2023, aimed at addressing concerns about the protocol.

The DUP says this is not enough and the party has been in talks with the government for several months seeking further reforms.

Chris Heaton-Harris also proposed a £3.3 billion financial package for Northern Ireland, dependent on the restoration of Stormont’s devolved institutions.

He said, “It’s time for another time.” [the DUP] To make some decisions. ”

However, DUP leader Sir Geoffrey Donaldson denied talks were finished and said a “further series of meetings” would be held just after Christmas.

On January 18, thousands of public sector workers in Northern Ireland, including civil servants, health and education staff, are set to go on strike over pay and conditions.

Heaton-Harris is under pressure to tackle the dispute in the absence of Stormont executives.

But he insisted this was a matter for local ministers and offered to provide £584m to settle pay claims as part of a £3.3bn financial package if Stormont returned.

The strike could also increase pressure on the DUP to stop blocking power-sharing.

Sir Jeffrey said the government’s current proposals were not on “sound grounds” and Stormont’s next budget did not include “a recurring aspect of public sector pay incentives”.

The strike coincides with a legislative deadline to re-establish Stormont’s power-sharing government.

If the Executive is not formed by January 18, the Northern Ireland Secretary will have a legal obligation to call early parliamentary elections.

“We are not treating this day as a goal,” he said in his New Year’s message, suggesting he might do so again.

Stormont’s parties are already preparing for a Westminster election, expected to be held at some point in 2024, in place of the parliamentary poll.

Politicians in Northern Ireland will no doubt be paying close attention to opinion polls in neighboring jurisdictions and across the pond.

These include voters in the Republic of Ireland who will take part in local government and European Parliament elections in June, and the US presidential election in November.

If the DUP returns to power-sharing with Stormont, Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O’Neill will take on the role of prime minister.

This will be the first time an Irish nationalist has held a post in Northern Ireland’s executive branch.

However, the Irish Republican Party cannot take on the role unless the DUP, the largest unionist party, nominate him as deputy prime minister.

Although their names are different, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have the same powers and responsibilities.

And since they are of a joint nature, one cannot hold a post without the other.

If there is no return to devolved government this year, the question for some will be: “What is the alternative?”

Last year, Heaton-Harris set Stormont’s budget in the absence of local ministers, with unelected civil servants facing significant cuts.

These spending pressures could be eased by the government’s proposed £3.3bn fiscal package last month.

However, this funding will only be provided if Stormont’s electricity sharing is restored.

Heaton-Harris said the government would not “stand idly by” and allow public services to deteriorate, but added: “There must be limits to how far the UK government can go without an executive.” Ta.

In his New Year’s message, he said if the executive was not reinstated, the Government would support Stormont’s civil service to “stabilize finances and services with a sustainable budget”.

The bill, passed in September, grants conditional pardons to people accused of murder during the decades-long conflict in Northern Ireland.

New trials and inquests from the Troubles era will also be canceled.

Victims and survivors have also brought legal action in the High Court in Belfast against the bill.

Critics say the law will take away access to justice, but the British government says it is an attempt to draw a line under past events.