Northern Ireland: Is deadlock inevitable?

Northern Ireland's politicians are again taking part in another round of talks aimed at trying to break the impasse over implementing the Good Friday Agreement - but not all the parties are attending and there's little agreement between those who are.

Unionists are blaming republicans for the deadlock, saying that they cannot sit in a powersharing government unless the IRA decommissions weapons.

Republicans are blaming unionists and the British government for the crisis, saying that neither have kept to their side of the bargain.

The Ulster Freedom Fighters has withdrawn support from the Good Griday Agreement while the Progressive Unionist Party, linked to the other main loyalist paramilitaries, the Ulster Volunteer Force, has withdrawn from this phase in the talks.

Is there a way out of this for Northern Ireland or was this deadlock inevitable? What does it mean for the peace process? What do the parties need to do to find agreement - or do you fear that the problems are so deeply entrenched they can never be resolved?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Has placing blame on anyone every done any good?

Mark, Northern Ireland

People may regard the following comments as statements of no meaning, because they were written by a young teenager. But anyway I feel that I have a right and a duty to express myself so that others may not feel trapped in their own country with the fear of "will I be killed if I say this?"

I think that a lot more would be achieved in N. Ireland if politicians worked as a team instead of fighting for the number of seats they can win in a parliament. What great triumph was ever brought about by rivalry and fighting? We need a united party working to solve problems instead of trying to create them for other people. I also don't think that there should be blame placed upon any leader of a party for any happenings within the Northern Irish communities - leaders of political parties are not as influential on the actions of their followers as people would believe. Has placing blame on anyone every done any good?

The last comment I would like to make is in response to an article published in a local newspaper on the use of plastic bullets to deter crowds of Loyalists and Nationalists from feuding. It mentioned how some children had been killed throughout the years by them. May I ask the question what were those young children doing there at that time? They were obviously encouraged by their parents to go out and antagonise peaceful marchers. It is the fault of the prejudiced parents and not the person who fired the bullet or the impressionable youths. I think that the usage of plastic bullets is acceptable - the people who are in the situation when the bullets are to be used should be able to take responsibility for their actions rather than blame it on the peace keepers (RUC).
Mark, Northern Ireland

The only way in which peace can be achieved in any situation such as this, is by allowing each culture to thrive and to do so without interference from the other. The problem in this particular situation is that each culture's identity is strongly rooted in the hatred of the other, thus making peaceful co-existence impossible without each at least breaking deeply ingrained traditions. Sadly this does not seem likely.
Brian C, Ireland/USA

My suggestion would be to give N.I. independence

Alex, Canada

I agree with Mr Hanson - the troubles will never end unless the politicians realise that the North does not want to join with the South. As a Scot Protestant, any English suggestions you might as well forget because they could not care less and know nothing about the problems. My suggestion would be to give N.I. independence and let them handle their own affairs - the IRA would then have something to think about.
Alex, Canada

Why does everyone keep going on about the IRA decommissioning? Have the loyalists decommissioned yet? They didn't initiate the peace process, so I think it is time that they started to show how committed they are to peace, rather than throwing obstacles into the process.
Joanne, UK/Soon to be Northern Ireland

The moderate Unionists led by David Trimble were dealt a blow at the polls in the last general election, so there are more extremists in power than before. There has been feuding and violence in Northern Ireland for hundreds of years and it is unlikely to stop anytime soon. The only real way to end this deadlock is for the U.S. to get involved.
Jeff, U.S.A.

We are slowly inching towards a long-term solution

Liam G., NI/USA

We have peace and we are slowly inching towards a long-term solution. With full implementation of the Patten report and demilitarisation, I feel decommissioning is inevitable. I am worried that the goal posts will be moved by both sides. Can Donaldson really expect the IRA to physically hand over weapons (isn't concreting the dumps enough)? I feel some unionists will never be happy with Catholics in government. Does Adams really expect a United Ireland by 2016? This is nonsense while there are still a million unionists in NI. This is a gradual evolution of a society too long dominated by a single party. It will take time, and needs realistic expectations and clear heads.
Liam G., NI/USA

If we take a step back, we can clearly see that neither Sinn Fein nor the Unionists have given an inch. Nor are they going to. The Unionists cannot let go of the days when they were in total control of Northern Ireland, and Sinn Fein simply hates anybody who disagrees with them.

There should be a referendum, asking these questions: 'Should the IRA and the Loyalists disarm immediately and completely?' and 'should our politicians maintain devolved government permanently, and without interruption?' The public would answer 'yes' to both these questions, and any party claiming to be democratic would be duty bound to comply. That would be a simple way to make progress and add weight to the Good Friday Agreement. What a shame that it is not going to happen.
Robert, England

All the people in Northern Ireland want currently is for the violence to stop. Sadly the North is full of young thugs on both sides of the community hell bent on causing trouble. And as usual it is the RUC and security forces as well as emergency services who clean up the mess caused by the constant pipe bombing and stone throwing. It is the communities themselves who suffer the constant abuse, in silence; for fear of retaliation. If only the parties would deal with the ground level issues of intimidation by both nationalist and loyalist thugs would Northern Ireland be a quieter, more pleasant land to live in. After that they can sort the rest out, like weapons and so forth.
Tony B, N.Ireland

The problem with this peace process is that the rule of democracy is not being upheld. Many of my Catholic friends view this as a process where all the concessions from the Unionist side are merely what they should have had all along. After all the Unionists don't belong in the North of Ireland. Until this process becomes equal and not just a process of atonement for the sins of supposed Protestant fathers it will not work.

When the UUP jumps first it is seen as merely doing the least it should do by the Nationalist population. As only a small percentage of Protestants vote for paramilitary parties while over half of all Catholics now vote for Sinn Fein democracy is the real loser in the continual fudges that we are sold. All paramilitary parties must join the democratic parties and stop their knee-capping, drug dealing, extortion, and street politics. Otherwise the main lesson of this process will be that violence pays and that if you are a democrat you are a loser.
Steve B, N Ireland

Respect for both cultures is required

Patricia, Northern Ireland/ USA

To those who insist that we give up our heritage, and yes, part of it is the marching and flag waving, (on both sides), please reconsider. This is our culture and may be offensive to others but toleration is necessary. We can banish marches on both sides but will it make us more acquiescent? I think not! Respect for both cultures is required and the freedom to do that will come as we acknowledge that the God we serve desires to bring unity in Northern Ireland.
Patricia, Northern Ireland/ USA

In the North of England the BNP have been quite rightly banned from marching through communities who would find their fascist propaganda hateful. On the same logic the Orange Order should be banned from propagating their fascist and evil propaganda throughout all Catholic communities in the North of Ireland. The Orange Order is NOT a religious order.
Mark, England

The point of the parades commission was to say which parades can and cannot go ahead. It seems the nationalists accept the decisions when they are in their favour and riot when then don't. The Nationalist community use the smoke screen of victimhood to justify every violent act they commit.
Iain Howe, UK

At least the political groups now talk to each other

Cynewulf, England

The Good Friday Agreement is unworkable. It is a political compromise, but the most encouraging aspect of it is that at least the political groups now talk to each other. For me, the only long-term solution is reunification. Sinn Fein should be less hostile to the Unionists and encourage them to realise that reunification can be an opportunity not a threat. To achieve this they must direct the IRA to make a major concession on arms decommissioning. The UK government should make it clear to the Unionists that the status quo is untenable in the long run. Ireland should become one country.
Cynewulf, England

The leaders of the major political parties in Northern Ireland should start discussing things in an adult-like manner, instead of appearing in front of the TV cameras after yet another collapse in the talks and blaming the other side.
A H, Scotland

There will always be deadlock in the peace process as long as the Unionists (and let's remember that it wasn't them who initiated the peace process) continue to exercise a veto through ultimatums, deadlines, or any other obstacles they can come up with.
UE, Nigeria/ UK

Too many individuals have a vested interest in destabilising the political process for their own selfish ends

Bill, UK

I grew up in Northern Ireland throughout the troubles (born in 67) and firmly believe that the majority of people there want to live together in harmony. The problem is however, that too many individuals have a vested interest in destabilising the political process for their own selfish ends. This is not about an inability to compromise, it is about hard-line terrorists backed up by politicians and easily-led followers in mainly deprived areas who seek to benefit from protection rackets, drug trafficking, arms dealing and much more that never seems to get into the press.
Bill, UK

Imagine if Liverpool fans were allowed to parade past the Man United ground, shouting, chanting and jeering at the Man United fans. Would that be allowed in the UK? Why then are Loyalists allowed to persist in their desire to imprison nationalists in their homes whilst they pursue their goal of self supremacy?
John, UK

Whatever happened to that point of democracy concerning the will of the majority? Ask the people what they want and they will decide. That this concept should be ignored would be a blatant disregard of the democratic rights that the UK purports to uphold would it not?
Mark Buckton, England/ Japan

I can't help feeling that the people in Northern Ireland are poorly served by their leaders

John, UK

Having visited and worked in Northern Ireland on many occasions, and met people who overwhelmingly want peace, I can't help feeling that the people in Northern Ireland are poorly served by their leaders. With so much intransigence on both sides; with a total unwillingness to see the other person's view; with a view that looks backwards rather than forwards, I can't help but think that progress towards peace is going to be painfully slow, with many backward steps along the way.
John, UK

So long as politicians on both sides are able to force both British and Irish governments to kow-tow by continually throwing their toys out of the pram and blaming each other, nothing will change. What is needed is a fresh approach: both Irish and UK governments should refuse to play ball, and leave the wannabe leaders of Northern Irish politics to be real leaders. They cause their own troubles - let them also sort those troubles out by themselves.
David Hazel, UK

It is a minor miracle that the Good Friday Agreement was secured at all, and I have always been convinced that the main reason for this was because a serious ultimatum had been given to the parties involved by either the Irish or British governments (or both). Whatever the nature of the threat, I suspect it's time to demonstrate that it was not a bluff.
Steve, UK

This was inevitable but avoidable

Rob Nelson, England

This was inevitable but avoidable. Why should all the emphasis be put upon the IRA decommissioning? The army are still in south Armagh and there has been no significant handover of weapons by Loyalist paramilitaries. It wasn't the IRA firing automatic weapons and rifles in salute. The arrogant stance taken by the Unionists is what will cause a collapse of the Good Friday Agreement not the IRA so stop making them scapegoats.
Rob Nelson, England

There is only one answer. SMASH THE IRA. These murderers have no interest in democracy. They are gangsters and the spineless Clinton, Blair and the rest of the liberal establishment should wake up to this. I'm not partisan - take out the IRA and the Loyalists lose their raison d'être too. The British army has the best personnel in the world. It's time to fight back.
Oliver Hanson, England

Following the recent behaviour of the Loyalist paramilitaries it is now more important that they disarm.
Gerry, Scotland

I think there is too much emphasis on treating the symptoms of the problem, and not enough on the underlying cause. Unless the culture of 'us and them' is addressed, there will be only symptomatic gestures of peace. The triumphalist marches, aggressive flag waving, and perpetual allocation of blame all needs to stop. These should be replaced by a mutual culture based on respect, an encompassing identity, and forward looking community leaders and politicians.
Colin, UK