N Ireland goes 2.5 years without a government – but it’s ‘Open’ for business

Next week marks two-and-a-half years since Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government collapsed – and politicians are still struggling to restore it.

Fresh negotiations, prompted by the “New IRA” murder of journalist Lyra McKee, have so far failed to produce a breakthrough.

Without devolved government or direct rule from Westminster, Northern Ireland is being run by civil servants instead of government ministers.

They are so strapped for cash at Maghaberry Primary School, the principal told a Commons committee that parents had donated toilet roll.

Graham Gault said: “We are in dire straits when it comes to finances at every level but particularly at nursery and primary.

“The absence of a functioning executive really means that school principals like me, who are holding the whole thing together, have nowhere to turn.

“We’ve got nobody to ask for help. We just feel like we are crying out in the darkness,” he added.

In stark contrast to the political stalemate, Royal Portrush Golf Club on the north coast is a hive of activity.

For the first time in 68 years, Northern Ireland will host The Open – the largest sporting event in its history.

Olympic legend Lady Mary Peters says much more can be achieved when people come together as they do in sport.

“We’ve had so many people coming to Northern Ireland. Once they’ve been, they want to come back and I think that it does break down barriers.

“You don’t ask what religion somebody is or what their persuasion is if they come to take part in sport. It’s all about friendship and opportunity,” she added.

Further up the coast, two-and-a-half-year-old Madison was playing on the beach. There hasn’t been a power-sharing government in her lifetime.

But her dad, Dan Henderson, says there’s no point restoring devolution unless the politicians stop behaving like children and lead.

“Leadership that has a vision of a future that’s different and then leading people into that, I think that’s what we need, not just to react and respond or put band-aids on systems and structures that are fundamentally failing.

“I think we need leaders with vision that can actually lead somewhere to a better future,” he added.

The British and Irish governments have not given up on the power-sharing government at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement.

But parties have now spent half of the five-year Stormont assembly term attempting to broker a compromise to restore it.

(c) Sky News 2019: N Ireland goes 2.5 years without a government – but it’s ‘Open’ for business