Role of government

Any discussion of the role of government in Northern Ireland must address the fact that the very form of government in Northern Ireland is a hotly contested political issue. Virtually all political parties in Northern Ireland have regarded the system of government by direct rule from London since 1972, as unsatisfactory. The business of governing Northern Ireland has been conducted by successive direct rule administrations for the past quarter of a century. This form of government has brought a degree of political stability and, unsatisfactory though it may be, has been the status quo for a quarter of a century and derives immense authority from that fact alone. The fact that there are surprisingly low levels of interest in and understanding of politics and government in Northern Ireland does not detract from the fact that there is fundamental disagreement on existence of the state itself and substantial opposition to any government of Northern Ireland, no matter what form it takes.