Apart from the much debated and intriguing Wright Inquiry, this week have provided valuable insights into the current and future structure of Northern Ireland society.
Firstly, earlier in the week, we saw a strong affirmation from dissident republican groups to step up their campaign on what they called mainland UK. Perhaps more interesting is their prescribed targets, banks and bankers (financial institutions). Whether a quest for legitimacy in a time when such institutions are at the foreground of most public opinion or not, the move signifies a worrying threat. This was today enhanced by the MI5 claim today that they remain fearful of a terrorist attack on Britain, with dissidents a possible source. It seems the threat and worry are both founded.
Secondly, with the rise of such obvious dissident engagement (it seems efforts to engage in dialogue with such groups appears non-existent, hopefully not), the possibility of further disenchantment and destabilization came in the announcement by Cameron’s coalition that Northern Ireland’s budget will be cut by approximately 25%. The implications of this are more profound than have been let on. Such a drastic cut is bound to have impacts on job creation, incomes and standard of living in the most basic of interpretations. Such social ruptures are the feeding ground for dissident groups.
Thirdly, the continuous community justice consciousness that seems to have infiltrated Northern Ireland during the Troubles has remained. This week has seen more example of such problems.
So, overall, the picture is problematic. We cannot deny the interconnected and interdependant nature of these threads. The current situation in Northern Ireland lays the foundation of what lays ahead. Thus, the picture needs simplification. This unfortunately takes time and money, two premiums in the region.
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