Many of us after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement believed that this exciting political compromise would be followed by a willingness on the part of all those pro-agreement parties to work positively together to solve the inevitable problems which remain after 30 years of civil strife. Even more than that, some of us thought that cooperative working on a whole range of matters would follow this historic moment to create the new joined-up Northern Ireland. I remember the excitement about the possibility of our own new flag and even discussion of a mini national anthem where we, the diverse but collaborating people, could stand proudly when the sporting or artistic achievement of someone from Northern Ireland came out a winner on the world stage.
How disappointing it was for us optimists to learn that consensus seeking for agreement ended with the agreement. Instead of the politicians continuing to develop the fledgling skills of mediation and dispute resolution that they showed in the negotiations the ink on the agreement was barely dry when most reverted to conflict-driven adversarial political style. This style, while maybe suited for media sound bites, is a failure in actually finding solutions to problems.
This was nowhere more obvious than in the recent spat over Sinn Féin's policy on the expunging of criminal records for all those people who are referred to as politically motivated prisoners.
There is no doubt that the successful reintegration post-settlement of those active in the conflict is a big issue, not just for Northern Ireland but for any country coming out of a long period of civil turmoil. There is also no doubt that the route to successful integration is beset with major problems. Mike Ritchie, Director of Coiste na nIarchimí in his platform piece on August 27 in this paper was right and the problems he was identifying were not new. It is difficult if not impossible for an ex-prisoner to obtain an ordinary job in ordinary society. It is also difficult for that person even if s/he is totally dedicated to peace and non-violence to access many of the things that normal citizens take for granted. Until we solve these issues we destine these people to stay outside the boundaries of normal society. Yet at the same time we demand that the paramilitary infrastructure be dismantled and that former combatants become ordinary citizens again. It doesn't take much analysis to realise that if we want the latter, we do need as a society to give serious attention to finding some solutions to the former.
What happens though? Firstly the republicans identify the issue, then come up with a defiant solution guaranteed to immediately raise the hackles of their political protagonists. The bickering starts. And with the predictability borne out of practice we have the usual reactions, with no-one stepping outside the usual response box to agree with the republicans that there is a problem. Energies, instead of being focused on alternative solutions to the undoubted problem are instead directed to ridiculing this 'new' demand (it is not) and to reminding us all of the outrageous audacity of Sinn Féin.
Actually the notion of expunging the criminal record of anyone who has spent a long time incarcerated is not a particularly clever idea, particularly if the purpose in so doing is to help with employment prospects. Everyone these days needs to fill in an application form or complete a CV. How do you explain away those missing years, in many instances as much as 15 or 20 years?
Constructing falsehoods will result in aroused suspicions potentially more difficult than the truth. Airbrushing away painful history is not the answer.
Nevertheless this unfinished business remains a major obstacle to community peace building aimed at the removal of paramilitary mindsets and continued paramilitary activity in those communities most affected by the troubles. With regard to jobs, removing automatic exclusions of ex-prisoners would be a positive contribution. There are people in the public, private and voluntary sectors who realise and understand the many difficulties and problems and are prepared to work together with republicans and loyalists and others to find creative solutions.
Perhaps if political parties could desist from headline grabbing with a the shopping list of confrontational demands and instead develop a language which outlines problems and seeks help from their political colleagues we might be able to rise out of the sinking sand that is the peace process. Indeed a request for help from the many in civic society skilled and willing in problem solving might produce surprisingly positive results.
There are still people around who recall the hope and feel there is still time to deliver on the promise of the Good Friday Agreement.
