When news emerged of the death of Elizabeth II on September 8 the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Alex Maskey MLA issued a statement expressing condolences.
He also said that he would be “liaising with the Party Whips and the Assembly Commission in relation to arrangements within Parliament Buildings in the coming days to ensure that the Assembly can pay its condolences”.
Had the Executive and Assembly been functioning, Operation Shamrock would be fully in place. In common with Westminster and the other devolved governments a date would be set, a session of the Assembly held for parties to make formal statements of remembrance before rising until after the State Funeral.
However, with the DUP’s ongoing refusal to nominate a Deputy First Minister, a more circuitous route must be navigated between the parties.
The rest of Operation Shamrock will proceed regardless, with a 96 round gun salute at Hillsborough and a visit by King Charles III.
Politics in Northern Ireland precludes any normality for the rest. Advisers in the Northern Ireland Office and to the new king will be navigating through how to manage the mess that constitutes politics here.
Of course, for those who pay any attention to events over recent years it is clear that the DUP and in previous years Sinn Féin, appear to care little for behaving in a manner in the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland.
The actions of Elizabeth II in providing quiet diplomacy to symbolically enhance the peace process were evident to all. The actions of the current DUP de facto boycott of the government are equally evident.
Do they expect that when the formal mourning period comes to a close they can still stamp their feet and stride back to the new Prime Minister and demand she tears up the NI Protocol. At a time when the nation takes stock of a new Royal era and the Westminster administration has been given leave to introduce the much vaunted energy bill cap Northern Ireland continues to stumble into the abyss.
There is no indication that there is a will to bring such a cap into Northern Ireland; not while the DUP refuses to step up to the plate.
No clear path to provide some financial respite in the face of bills soaring, in some cases by more than 56%; not while the DUP refuses to step up to the plate.
The health service is teetering on the brink, even before the winter pressures, with unspent money languishing and patients suffering. Recent figures show, over a 10-week sample period, 300 excess deaths, and predictions by the experts that this will continue to rise. Action is needed to solve the conundrum, but will it happen; not while the DUP refuses to step up to the plate.
There is a pot of unspent money. The Finance Minister, and all those holding ministerial portfolios, can and should be using those monies to advance capital programmes and ongoing pressures; not while the DUP refuses to step up to the plate.
There are many other examples that show that the moribund mundanity of what passes for politics is just a case of the same old story. Sinn Féin should remember the Biblical saying ‘let him without sin cast the first stone’.
Party interests supersede the needs of the populace, appealing to a diminishing base vote more important than dealing with crises.
As the funeral and investiture of King Charles III proceed one can hope that the DUP will pause on what is important. Yes, the NI Protocol is a thorny issue; yes there are no easy paths to please all; and yes it will need concerted compromises from all. But, the vacuum created by the refusal to form an executive punishes the people.
It is neither appropriate or moral to proceed in this manner.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II exemplified the manner in which compassion, humility and consideration can pave a way.
Follow her example.